A Doll's House comes to Wellington
Emily Perkins' re-imagining of Ibsen's classic will be staged at Circa in August.
The Ibsen classic A Doll’s House, re-imagined by Emily Perkins and directed by Katherine McRae, will be staged at Circa Theatre this August.
Perkins convenes the IIML's MA in Creative Writing fiction workshop. She is a highly acclaimed novelist and short story writer, and co-wrote the script for the 2016 film The Rehearsal, based on Eleanor Catton's debut novel with director Alison McLean. Perkins was named a New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate in 2011 and was recently appointed as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
This is her first stage play, initially commissioned by the Auckland Theatre Company for their successful 2015 season.
'A Doll's House is famous for questioning the social straitjackets we find ourselves in, exploring the nature of power and free will, and the tension between the individual and her community, autonomy and responsibility,' says Perkins.
Perkin's adaptation reframes the story in a present-day New Zealand setting, as events from the past intrude on the 'perfect' marriage of Nora and Theo Helmer, with devastating consequences.
Award-winning director McRae (Cherish, The Enemy of the People) was inspired to stage the play by the continued relevance of the domestic politics at the heart of this vibrant adaptation.
'By creating a fresh and exciting exploration of a modern marriage, Emily Perkins stops us relegating the difficulties of the domestic power balance to the past,' says McRae.
The production stars Sophie Hambleton (Katydid, TV’s Westside) as Nora Helmer, with Arthur Meek (Lungs, Hilary Clinton/Young Lover), Kali Kopae (La CasaAzul), Francis Biggs (Consent) and Peter McCauley (TV's The Lost World).
The Chapman Tripp season of A Doll's House is presented by arrangement with Playmarket and The Agency (London) and shows at Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street,Wellington from 5 August to 2 September (preview 4 August).
Performance times: Tuesday – Thursday 6.30pm, Friday – Saturday, 8pm, Sunday 4pm Tickets: $25 - 52 from www.circa.co.nz or by calling 04 801 7992
Adapted from a media release on Scoop Culture. Read the full media release.