At the turn of the 20th century, when Anton Chekhov wrote Three Sisters, opportunities for women were slim to say the least. An unhappy marriage or unfulfilling work seem to be the only options available to Olga, Masha and Irina, but in this imaginative re-working they dream of something bigger. Last seen at the Fringe with the excellent solo show, Her Green Hell, TheatreGoose is back with another highly physical, female-centred work. 

Taking a meta approach to Chekhov’s characters, we find the young trio discussing their lot. None of them is happy, but Olga and Masha seemed resigned to their fate within the play, Irina less so. In a bid to try on other lives, the youngest sister opens a large treasure chest and plucks out a simple prop to take them on their journey. But they find little in the way of happiness becoming the three Brontë sisters, the brides of Dracula from Bram Stoker’s novel, Macbeth’s witches or even the Sugababes.

Performers Sophie Kean, Abby McCann and Angela Sant’Albano generate sparkling on-stage chemistry, erupting in volatile exchanges then showing each other tenderness, as real sisters do. There’s less clever physicality than we saw in Her Green Hell, but the dialogue and delivery is no less compelling. A fascinating idea that leads slowly but surely to a glorious sense of empowerment. 

Sisters Three, Summerhall, until 26 August, 9.10pm; main picture: Giulia Ferrando.