Inva Ellis' adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters, which aired on the National Theatre's website, takes place during the Nigerian civil war in 1967. At the center of the show are Olga, Masha and Irina, now in the form of Lulu, Ne Chukovo and Udo, and the show opens with their birthday party.
According to Alec Sears of Times Theater, Lulu, played by Sarah Niles, understands the political tragedy of her family and society, and the sense of her loss has a powerful presence in the work; Nathalie Simpson's performance has given Neh Chukwue intense passion and sadness, and Rachel Ofori has found hope and humor in the role of the younger sister. The male actors of this work also have a powerful presence in the show.
The issues of racism, traditional medicine and patriarchy are clearly visible in this work. Nadia Fall's precise and exciting direction along with Catherine Lindsay's beautiful stage design has made this work more memorable. Despite the length and complexity of the play, its scathing criticism of British imperialism is highly visible and shows the complete destruction of a way of life by the suppression of Biafra's independence.
Alec Sears believes that this is a very ambitious adaptation that has given life and new definitions to a European classic and proved that a change of location can give new meaning to plays we thought we knew well.