This production of Chekhov's tragic comedy played in repertory with King Lear, and matched it for quality every step of the way. McKellen was wonderful as the elderly Sorin in The Seagull (double cast with William Gaunt, who played Gloucester in King Lear), but the greatest performances were turned in by Richard Goulding as Konstantin (pictured below rehearsing with McKellen), who played the tiny role of a messenger in Lear, and Romola Garai as Nina, who was not as effective in the role of Lear's youngest daughter Cordelia.