A Doll's House
24 February - 12 March 2011
For Sale
- By Henrik Ibsen
- Presented at The Lowry
- £10 - £18
Nora loves her husband above everything. But when she risks her reputation in order to save him, the consequences force her to examine her devotion, and she finds herself struggling for her own life.
Ibsen’s ground-breaking play created a huge sensation at its premiere in 1879 and is as fresh and pertinent as ever, with an unfading capacity to shock.
Extra play added after selected performances
LTC’s Assistant Director, Elisa Amesbury has adapted Getting Married, by August Strindberg, to be performed at The Lowry 9, 10 and 11 March at 10.15pm following each evening’s performance of A Doll’s House.
Strindberg originally wrote the short story Getting Married as a witty riposte to A Doll’s House in 1884 and this new adaptation is a charming and fascinating insight into what Ibsen’s arch-rival really thought of his masterpiece…
William and Rose are deeply in love and happily married, until, of course, a new friend gives Rose a copy of A Doll’s House to read. Heartache ensues as Rose realises in retrospect that her marriage has been far from perfect. Will this pair ever find their way back to married bliss?
Admission to Getting Married is free to ticket holders of A Doll’s House. Those attending on the performance of A Dolls House immediately preceding Getting Married are guaranteed a place. Those attending other performances who wish to come back and see Getting Married should enquire with The Lowry box office on 0843 208 6010.
A Doll's House Performances |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 24 Feb | 7:15pm | Preview | All tickets £10 | |
| Fri 25 Feb | 7:15pm | Press Night | £18 / £16 | |
| Sat 26 Feb | 2:30pm | Weekend Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Sat 26 Feb | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
| Mon 28 Feb | 7:15pm | All tickets £10 | ||
| Tue 1 Mar | 7:15pm | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | ||
| Wed 2 Mar | 7:15pm | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | ||
| Thu 3 Mar | 2:30pm | Weekday Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Thu 3 Mar | 7:15pm | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | ||
| Fri 4 Mar | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
| Sat 5 Mar | 2:30pm | Weekend Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Sat 5 Mar | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
| Mon 7 Mar | 7:15pm | All tickets £10 | ||
| Tue 8 Mar | 7:15pm | Audio Described | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Wed 9 Mar | 7:15pm | Director's Pre-Show Talk | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Thu 10 Mar | 2:30pm | Weekday Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Thu 10 Mar | 7:15pm | Signed Performance | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Fri 11 Mar | 7:15pm | Captioned Performance | £18 / £16 | |
| Sat 12 Mar | 2:30pm | Weekend Matinee, Audio Described, Director's Pre-Show Talk | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Sat 12 Mar | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
The Lowry
- Pier 8, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, M50 3AZ
- Box Office: 0843 208 6010
The Lowry is our chosen venue for our main season plays whilst we are on the move. We are performing in the intimate setting of the Quays Theatre.
The Lowry is 10 minutes drive from Manchester City Centre, 20 minutes drive from Manchester Airport, and a quarter of a mile from the motorway network, giving access from all over the North West and beyond. It also has excellent public transport links and is situated in the centre of a vibrant shopping, eating and leisure destination.
Find out more about the getting to The Lowry here
Emma Cunniffe is superb as Nora Helmer, who moves from being a carefree young wife, to a troubled woman dealing with the despair of her secret being found out, to a strong woman who finally makes a choice which is right for her. On stage for most of the performance, she is convincing throughout. 4 stars.
Freed from the confines of their former basement home, the Library Theatre continues to demonstrate a new lease of life. Bryony Lavery’s robust, very direct, conversational translation, gives the text a very sharp edge, further honed by Honer. Another Library success.
this landmark play carries a contemporary message that is executed with emotion and passion. It may have been ahead of it’s time when first published, but don’t miss the opportunity to see it now. 4 stars.
An excellent cast captures every nuance of the work. Emma Cunniffe gives a remarkable performance as the cosseted and fragile Nora and it is amazing to watch her transformation from doting and obedient wife to a strong yet bewildered woman ready to face an uncertain future alone. Playing opposite Cunniffe as her obsessive husband Torvald is the outstanding Ken Bradshaw, who brings an unusual charisma to the sinister control freak who wears the veneer of the perfect, caring husband.
Chris Honer’s production is slick and polished and feels very fresh and vibrant, despite the play’s age and the seriousness of its story.
In the final analysis this is Nora’s story and Ms Cunniffe tells it with an hugely entertaining mix of delight, fear, foreboding and determination. She emerges from the doll’s house to become a stronger woman in an undeniably man‘s world – bewildered yet strong – and that is exactly what Ibsen wanted us to see.
as Nora’s possibly misguided, but well meaning, attempt to save her husband when he was ill many years before, unravels over the course of a few days, we are pulled into the action with her. I was nearly cheering her on as the scales drop from her eyes near the end!
For me, the most sympathetic character is Dr Rank (Daniel Brocklebank), a decent man whose has kept his true feelings for Nora close to his chest. Another triumph for Chris Honer who, when it comes directing, seems incapable of putting a foot wrong.
Library Theatre Company
The Cast
- James Ketel
- Ivar
- Sarah Ball
- Mrs Linde
- George Courtney
- Ivar
- Paul Barnhill
- Krogstad
- Nathan Ng
- Bob
- Oliver Churm
- Bob
- Ken Bradshaw
- Helmer
- Lola Jones
- Emmy
- Hashini Ranaweera
- Emmy
- Daniel Brocklebank
- Dr Rank
- Emma Cunniffe
- Nora
- Verity-May Henry
- Helene
- Roberta Kerr
- Anne-Marie
Production Crew
- Chris Honer
- Director
- Judith Croft
- Designer
- Nick Richings
- Lighting Designer
- Gary Yershon
- Composer
- Paul Gregory
- Sound Designer
- Niamh Dowling
- Movement Director
- Jamie Byron
- Company Stage Manager
- Caroline Bowen
- Deputy Stage Manager
- Chris Booth
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Elisa Amesbury
- Assistant Director
- Kay Magson
- Casting Adviser
- Michelle Barlow
- Casting Assistant
- Julie Williams
- Chaperone
Related News & Blog Posts
Press Release: A Doll's House to feature Emma Cunniffe
Some of the cast for A Doll's House at the Library Theatre Manchester have been announced, with Emma Cunniffe in the role of Nora… Read more
News: Interview with Bryony Lavery
We spoke this week to Bryony Lavery, the writer who has adapted the text of A Dolls House, which we are presenting at The Lowry from February 24th 2011. … Read more
Blog: If Ibsen wrote a blog ... mmm?
A Dolls House is coming up and we have two of our team writing about it for our Posterous Blog site. But they are both approaching the situation from very different an...… Read more
