CLASSIC Chekhov play Three Sisters has been transposed from bleakest Russia to sun drenched Trinidad and Tobago for its run at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Award-winning writer Mustapha Matura has reworked one of Chekhov's greatest plays, Three Sisters, for a new production directed by Paulette Randall.

Now set in colonial Trinidad in 1941 the play follows the lives of three privileged sisters who live in Port of Spain along with their strange brother and his domineering wife.

The girls dream of returning home to their adopted country, England, and the spires of Cambridge, where they spent their cosmopolitan youth. But these ambitions of emigrating soon crumble as World War II escalates and the Trinidadian army is called to serve King, country and empire.

Matura is one of the most prolific African-Caribbean playwrights of his generation, writing for stage and screen.

The cast includes Brigid Zengeni (Alma), Nicola Alexis (Helen), Lorraine Burroughs (Audrey), Ben Bennett (Scott), Tracey Saunders (Jean), Andrew Dennis (Francis), Nathan Constance (Lucas), Adrian Irvine (Peter), David Michaels (Richard).

Design will be by Libby Watson, lighting by James Farncombe, and sound by Dan Hoole.

Director Paulette Randall was artistic director of the Talawa one of the country's foremost black theatre companies.

The production is Eclipse Theatre's fourth show and the company is an initiative to develop the national profile of Afro-Carribean theatre.

Three Sisters runs from Friday until Saturday, March 4 at the theatre, in Centenary Square.

Tickets cost between £12 and £20 and the show starts at 7.30pm Monday to Saturday, apart from Tuesday. Call 0121 236 4455 to book or go to www.birminghham-rep.co.uk to book on-line.