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Seagulls review – Chekhov musical makes Nina a singer-songwriter

Bolton Library and Museum
Beth Hyland attempts to shift the male-and-his-muse gaze in her story about misogyny in the music industry

Fiction and history are littered with male artists and their obliging female muses, with women forever relegated to supporting roles. Beth Hyland’s new musical, loosely based on Chekhov’s The Seagull, attempts to refocus the narrative. Trigorin – a global rock star in this version – is pushed into the wings, leaving singer-songwriter Nina in the spotlight.

At its best, Seagulls homes in on the misogyny of the music industry – and culture more broadly. A gifted musician in her own right, Nina soon gets tired of languishing in the shadow of boyfriend and bandmate Con. He wants a muse, not a partner. But in leaving him behind and taking the opportunity offered by Trigorin, Nina walks into a world where she can never be sure if she’s valued for her talent or her looks.

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from Culture | The Guardian https://ift.tt/34hyymX

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