When George Moore declared “Ireland is a little Russia” in 1911, he couldn’t have predicted how prophetic those words would prove for contemporary Irish theater. Now, over a century later, that connection finds its most compelling expression in Kabosh’s bold new adaptation of Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS, featuring Saoirse-Monica Jackson in what marks a significant return to her theatrical roots.
Jackson, who captured hearts worldwide as the irrepressible Erin Quinn in DERRY GIRLS, brings her considerable talents back to the stage in this world premiere adaptation by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth. It’s a homecoming of sorts for the actress, whose career has flourished across both television and film in recent years, with notable appearances in THE CROWN and her breakout role that made her a household name. Her participation in this production represents more than just another credit—it’s a statement about the enduring power of live theater and the pull of meaningful storytelling.
The production, directed by Marc Atkinson Borrull with designs by Molly O’Cathain, transforms Chekhov’s turn-of-the-century Russian provincial house into something distinctly Irish, building on Brian Friel’s 1981 translation that first premiered in Derry’s Guildhall. This isn’t merely cultural translation but artistic transformation, where the emotional entanglements of three sisters and their brother dreaming of Moscow become a meditation on Irish identity, displacement, and the universal human longing for something just out of reach.
Jackson joins an impressive ensemble that includes Megan Cusack from CALL THE MIDWIFE, Lorcan Cranitch of THE CROWN, Breffni Holahan from THE NEVERS, Alex Murphy from THE YOUNG OFFENDERS, and Máiréad Tyers from EXTRAORDINARY. This casting demonstrates the current strength of Irish and British television talent willing to embrace the intimacy and immediacy of live theater, bringing their screen-honed skills to bear on Chekhov’s psychologically complex characters.
What makes this adaptation particularly compelling is Smyth’s examination of nostalgia and the cyclical nature of history, themes that resonate powerfully in contemporary Ireland. The play’s exploration of characters trapped between past and future, unable to fully inhabit their present, speaks to a generation grappling with rapid social change while maintaining connections to tradition. Jackson’s involvement signals her commitment to projects that matter beyond mere entertainment value, choosing work that engages with serious themes while maintaining the sharp humor that has become her trademark.
The rehearsed reading format, featuring fourteen actors including several DERRY GIRLS alumni, creates an intimate theatrical experience that strips away spectacle to focus on pure performance and language. This approach allows Jackson and her fellow performers to explore the nuanced emotional landscape of Chekhov’s characters without the constraints of full production, creating space for the kind of raw, immediate connection between performer and audience that defines great theater.
For Jackson, this return to theater represents an artist at a crossroads, using her newfound prominence to champion meaningful work rather than simply capitalizing on her television success. Her choice to participate in this world premiere demonstrates a commitment to artistic growth and cultural contribution that extends beyond career advancement. It’s the kind of decision that marks the difference between a performer and an artist, between someone who acts and someone who uses their platform to engage with the world around them.
Paul Mescal is an Irish God in the new @britishgq interview.
In just a few years, he`s become more than an actor—he`s a mirror we all project onto, filling him with our ideas about masculinity, vulnerability, and what a leading man can be in 2025.
More Mescal at irishfilmtv.com.
A priest. A pool. A Spanish island. And one very dead body. 🏊♂️☠️
THESE SACRED VOWS hits RTÉ One on February 1st, and this wedding weekend mystery is about to become your next obsession.
Newly released trailer now at irishfilmtv.com.
Killarney`s own Jessie Buckley just took home the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for HAMNET, and her acceptance speech was pure gold 🏆✨
In HAMNET, Buckley delivers a devastating performance as Agnes, William Shakespeare`s wife, navigating the grief of losing their 11-year-old son. Critics are calling it unforgettable, and now she has the trophy to prove it 🎬💚
More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
HAMNET star Jessie Buckley shines in BEAST, now on #Netflix.
A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🕺✨ DANCING WITH THE STARS IRELAND is back for S9 tonight!
Get ready for spray tans, sequins, and Sunday night sparkle because Ireland`s favourite winter escape is almost here. Who`s ready to vote their faves to victory? 💃
More at irishfilmtv.com.
** Now on Netflix **
RUN AWAY brings Harlan Coben back to form with James Nesbitt doing what he does best—playing a tormented father searching for his missing daughter against all advice.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
By order of the Peaky Blinders, Merry Christmas!
A teaser for the new film PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN just dropped, and it features Cillian Murphy’s gangster Tommy Shelby returning to his old ways despite leaving them all behind at the end of the TV series.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
Domhnall Gleeson heads to a remote Scottish isle for THE INCOMER!
He plays an awkward council worker tasked with relocating two siblings who survive by hunting seabirds, talking to mythical beings, and fiercely defending their homeland from outsiders.
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott is bringing one of theater`s most powerful true stories to life.
The ALL OF US STRANGERS star will portray Scottish actor Ian Charleson in ELSINORE, chronicling Charleson`s breathtaking final performance as Hamlet at London`s National Theatre before his death in 1990 at age 40.
More via irishfilmtv.com.
Belfast-born Ciaran Hinds shines in Bradley Copper`s IS THIS THING ON?
With Hinds, you`re not just getting an actor. You`re getting decades of gravitas, warmth, and that rare ability to make every scene feel like it matters. From prestige drama to fantasy epics, he`s built a career on understated brilliance. And now? He`s ready to find the humor in heartbreak.
More Ciaran at irishfilmtv.com.
Gothic drama LIES WE TELL is now on Netflix.
With powerful performances by Agnes O`Casey and David Wilmot, the Irish drama takes Sheridan Le Fanu`s classic novel UNCLE SILAS and transforms it into something urgent and vital for our moment.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
When Colin Farrell and Jessie Buckley finally sat down together, they were strangers—but within moments, the conversation became profound.
Both Irish actors are carrying the weight of devastating roles this year: Farrell as a gambling addict spiraling in Macau in BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER, Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare grieving her son in HAMNET.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
From FAIR CITY to KNIVES OUT! Daryl McCormack shines in the new #netflix film WAKE UP DEAD MAN.
McCormack just wrapped Netflix`s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE opposite Jack Lowden, Emma Corrin, and Olivia Colman. Talk about range: trading viral grift for Jane Austen elegance. Same actor, different century, wildly different moral compass.
More Daryl at irishfilmtv.com.
Eve Hewson brings ghosts to life in Noah Baumbach`s JAY KELLY.
From her breakout in THIS MUST BE THE PLACE to BAD SISTERS and beyond, she`s now haunting George Clooney as Daphne—a face from the past that forces a movie star to confront who he became while chasing fame.
More Eve at irishfilmtv.com.
When the past catches up with you in Amsterdam 🌊
Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville star in MIDWINTER BREAK—a retired couple`s winter getaway becomes a reckoning with memories they`ve tried to outrun for decades, in theatres Feb 20.
New trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
