Welcome

On the first day of rehearsal for this production, Simon Godwin, our wonderful director, quoted Ian Rickson, the former Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre in London, who said “treat the classics like new plays, and the new plays like classics.” Which I interpret to mean bringing a sense of experimentation and boldness and perhaps even a little irreverence to the production of classic plays, and a deep respect and willingness to be guided by the essential soul of a new work to its production. Since the beginning of the year, we have had the opportunity to do both things simultaneously as The Thing About Jellyfish and Uncle Vanya have rehearsed in neighboring rooms, as their cast members have shared spaces here at the theatre, as well as in our Harrison Street pre-production facility, as our remarkable staff has gone back and forth between the creation of a country estate in turn-of-the-last-century Russia and the world as represented in the imagination of a 12-year-old girl in the United States of today.

Simon and this team of designers and cast have rigorously studied the environment within which Chekhov created Uncle Vanya, including having renowned scholars visit during rehearsal to share historical and political context for the work. At the same time, these artists have interrogated what it is to be a collection of individuals at this particular moment in time, from different countries, ethnicities, generations, and lived experiences, deeply committed to the exploration and inhabiting of one of the revered and canonical texts of Western theatre history. All of this work has been done with the express intention of creating a production that will come to life in partnership with this specific community, with you, our audience.

As we move into the second half of this season, and are deep into the planning process for the 2025/26 season (which we will share with you later this spring), I am deeply grateful to collaborate with you in bringing this wide range of theatrical work to the stage. Already this year, we have traveled together to the Rio Grande, to Harlem, to enchanted forests, and the deepest depths of the ocean. Thank you for joining us on these journeys. Onward, to the continued explorations ahead!

Warmly,

Johanna Pfaelzer | Artistic Director

We are thrilled to partner on this production of Uncle Vanya with Washington, DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Simon Godwin, who is helming this production. Shakespeare Theatre Company is one of the country’s premier classical theatre companies. When paired with Berkeley Rep, one of the country’s premier contemporary theatres and new play incubators, this reimagining of Chekhov’s classic aims to bridge past and present.

Collaborations like this, known as co-productions, where two or more theatre companies share the costs and efforts of creating a piece of theatre that moves between their venues, were common before the pandemic and have become increasingly vital as we work to revitalize our organizations, rebuild audiences, and bolster contributions.

As we partner with others to keep costs down, I hope you will help us regrow support for Berkeley Rep by subscribing, resubscribing (special Early Bird access to 2025/26 subscriptions is available now before we announce next season in mid-April), bringing friends, gifting tickets, spreading the word, signing up for a class at our School of Theatre, or making a donation. While audiences are increasingly returning to the theatre, many could use your encouragement. Only through collaboration and mutual support can we emerge from the pandemic and continue to advance our mission to create ambitious theatre that entertains and challenges audiences, provokes civic engagement, and inspires people to experience the world in new and surprising ways.

For Early Bird subscriptions, renew for the full season before April 14 to lock in our best prices — saving at least 20% off individual ticket prices. Your trust and loyalty will be rewarded with waived subscription fees. Early Bird subscriptions secure your same seats if renewing for the same day and time and place you first in line for change requests.

Enjoy the show!

Tom Parrish | Managing Director