The legendary premiere of ‘The Seagull’ on 17 December 1898 was a crucial milestone in the history of the Russian and world theatre. The performance that was welcomed enthusiastically both by the public and critics, demonstrated Chekhov’s dramatic art and a new modern acting system. Together with Chekhov, the cultural revolution in the theatre was made by the stage directors, KonstantIn Stanislavsky and VladImir Nemirovich-Danchenko. 

It was a new acting system oriented, instead of a protagonist, towards a democratic “group of persons” with a common life and temper. A new understanding of the scenic truth, that directs the attention of the actor and director away from the external realism to the internal realism, to the finest manifestations of the human spirit. And finally, what is most important, a true-to-life, nervous, strong acting of the young professional theater company. 

Later, when Chekhov came to Moscow in spring 1899, ‘The Seagull’ was shown especially for him, in the ‘Paradise’ theatre. After the performance Chekhov had his picture taken together with the actors of the Moscow Art Theatre who had played in ‘The Seagull’. While shooting the photo, the author was reading his play. The picture is displayed in the center of the panel. The summer of 1899 also demonstrated that there was one more reason why Chekhov wanted to go to Moscow – it was the arising love to a young actress of the Moscow Art Theatre, Olga Knipper. Chekhov first saw her at the rehearsal of the ‘Seagull’, and then, of ‘Czar Fyodor’.