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Aaron Posner re-radicalizes Chekhov for today's audiences

Playwright Aaron Posner updates Anton Chekhov's The Seagull in his latest play, Stupid F--king Bird.
A scene from Aaron Posner's play, Stupid F--king Bird. (Josie Di Luzio)

Aaron Posner's new play, Stupid F--king Bird, was "sort of" adapted from an old Anton Chekhov play called The Seagull. But what do we mean by "sort of"? 

"I wanted to re-radicalize Chekhov," Posner explains. "He was realistic, he was putting everyday life onstage... That's been copied by basically everybody in all of theatre, film, television; its not longer radical. I wanted to make it fresh again." 

Incorporating his own personal experience to Stupid F--king Bird, Posner is using Chekhov's work as his "playground," with one notable change: "I take all the subtext and text it." 

Stupid F--king Bird runs until March 26 at Pop-Up Toronto Theatre. For more information, head over to their website.

— Produced by Diane Eros