Petr Shelokhonov created leading roles in several new productions of such classic plays by Anton Chekhov as Uncle Vanya in "Uncle Vanya" (), Ivanov in "Ivanov" (), Tuzenbach in "Three Sisters" (), and Treplev in "The Seagull" (). In "The Cherry Orchard", which he co-directed, he also played two opposing characters on different nights, alternating between the roles as Gayev, and as Lopakhin. Shelokhonov also appeared as Satin in "The Lower Depths" () by Maxim Gorky and as Derzhavin in "Friends and Years" by Leonid Zorin. His favorite role of that period was Platonov in the eponymous play by Anton Chekhov. In
The Cherry Orchard Yasha might have some time alone, but that is interrupted when they hear their employer coming. Yasha shoos Dunyasha away to avoid being caught, and Ranevskaya, Gayev, and Lopakhin appear, once more discussing the uncertain fate of the cherry orchard. Shortly Anya, Varya, and Trofimov arrive as well. Lopakhin teases Trofimov for being a perpetual student, and Trofimov espouses his philosophy of work and useful purpose, to the delight and humour of everyone around. During their conversations, a drunken and disheveled vagrant passes by and begs for money; Ranevskaya thoughtlessly gives him all of her money, despite the protestations of