A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Three Days in the Country

Full-Length Play  /  9w, 10m

Ivan Turgenev, Patrick Marber

In 19th-century Russia, a handsome new tutor brings reckless, romantic desire to an eccentric household. Over three summer days, the young and the old learn lessons in love: first love and forbidden love; maternal love and platonic love; ridiculous love and last love; the love left unsaid and the love which must out.

Three Days in the Country

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    9w, 10m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades

  • Winner! 2019 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Adaptation

Details

Summary

In 19th-century Russia, a handsome new tutor brings reckless, romantic desire to an eccentric household. Over three summer days, the young and the old learn lessons in love: first love and forbidden love; maternal love and platonic love; ridiculous love and last love; the love left unsaid and the love which must out.


Inspired by Ivan Turgenev's passionate, moving comedy A Month in the Country, Patrick Marber's Three Days in the Country premiered at the National Theatre, London, in July 2015.

History

Inspired by Ivan Turgenev's passionate, moving comedy A Month in the Country, Patrick Marber's Three Days in the Country premiered at the National Theatre, London, in July 2015.

Cast Attributes
Performing Groups

ARKADY – A rich landowner, forties

NATALYA – His wife

KOLYA – Their son, ten

VERA – Their ward, seventeen

ANNA – Arkady’s mother, sixties

LIZAVETA – Anna’s companion, around fifty

RAKITIN – A friend of the family, forties

SCHAAF – A German tutor

BELYAEV – Kolya’s new tutor, twenties

SHPIGELSKY – A doctor

BOLSHINTSOV – A rich neighbour

MATVEY – A servant

KATYA – A maidservant

  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Setting

    Arkady’s country estate. Summer, mid-19th century.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“Elegant… the wit of the dialogue captivates.” – The Guardian

“Astonishing… painful and potent as a glass of neat, chilled vodka, downed in one.” – TimeOut London


“Patrick Marber turns out another gem.” – The Telegraph


“A young tutor sets hearts aflutter in Patrick Marber’s witty, elegant and mercifully truncated update of Turgenev... [Marber] must take a bow. For it is an evening where the wit of the dialogue captivates. And, as in an elegant dance, the play keeps turning on its own heel, moving between comedy and anguish, reminding us of love as an impractical joke.” – The Guardian

Photos

  • Three Days in the Country

    Image: 2015 National Theatre Production (Tristram Kenton)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Scripts

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Authors

Author
Patrick Marber

Patrick Marber
Patrick Marber was born in London in 1964. He began his career as a writer in 1986. He co-wrote and appeared in a number of radio and television programmes including The Day Today and Knowing Me, Knowing You. In 1995 his first play, Dealer’s Choice, premiered at the National ...
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