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An all-star cast of acclaimed and celebrated comedy talent are set to appear in four Anton Chekhov shorts for Sky Arts. The renowned plays include The Proposal, The Dangers of Tobacco, The Bear and A Reluctant Tragic Hero and will be broadcast to high definition television screens this November.

The series of four one-act plays have been commissioned by Sky Arts to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Chekhov’s birth. It will feature some of the most well known faces from British theatre and screen comedy including; Julia Davis (Nighty Night), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde, West End), Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey), Philip Jackson (Home Time) and Mackenzie Crook (The Office), along with comedy and acting supremos, Johnny Vegas and Steve Coogan.

James Hunt, Head of Programming for Sky Arts, said “Following the huge critical success of our Theatre Live and Playhouse Live seasons we know there is a huge appetite for great plays, stunningly performed and beautifully produced. The stars we have signed for this Chekhov season, in the safe hands of a multi-award winning production team, is a testament to that ambition and shows just how committed we are at Sky Arts to ensuring great theatre thrives on television.”

“We are very excited to be producing Chekhov for Sky Arts, in a way he would have wished, by using great comedy actors” adds Henry Normal, Managing Director of Baby Cow.

The plays have been chosen because of their wonderful comic tone and are regarded as some of Chekhov’s finest short works. Directed by Chris Gernon (Gavin & Stacey) and produced by Ted Dowd (Gavin & Stacey) they will be filmed in high definition at Sky studios and produced by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal’s Baby Cow Productions.

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