Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull is one of the Russian playwright’s best-known plays: an 1896 comedy that follows four different conflicts, liberally quotes Hamlet and has enough tragic subtext for a lifetime. It’s also a work that makes very literal use of Chekhov’s Gun—the dramatic principle that any significant detail that shows up early should be relevant to the story later—as a rifle used in the first act that comes back around in the third.

The Seagull’s tragicomic contemporary retelling, Stupid F*cking Bird, makes its Vancouver premiere on April 12 at the Cultch. But this isn’t dour Russian brooding; playwright Aaron Posner’s script mixes sharp wit with songs and original music from James Sugg to create something fresh and vibrant.

The Cultch show is helmed by The Search Party, the production company behind 2019’s multi-awarded production The Father and last year’s buzzy run of Bunny. The company creates shows that are “emotionally powerful and aesthetically rigorous,” according to their website, putting Stupid F*cking Bird in good stead. Lauded director Mindy Parfitt is overseeing the whole thing.

Nathan Kay stars as struggling playwright Con, alongside Anton Lipvetsky, Jesse Lipscombe, Kevin McNulty, Baraka Rahmani, Kerry Sandomirsky and Emma Slipp. 

Post-show talkbacks will take place after the April 16 matinee and April 18 evening performances.

Just don’t let the seagulls swipe your snacks on the way out.

Stupid F*cking Bird runs at the Cultch from April 12 to 23. Tickets are available here and start at $25.