THEATRE list.co.uk/theatre
A DOLL’S HOUSE A fresh political spin on a proto-feminist classic
I n 2009, playwright Zinnie Harris gave Henrik Ibsen’s masterful 19th century dissection of corruption and power a timely update. The acclaimed writer of The Wheel and Further than the Furthest Thing transposed the action from Norway’s financial world in 1879 to political London in 1909, and the show premiered just as the MPs expenses scandal broke.
‘I felt there was a real parallel between the world of scandal that Ibsen talks about and the world of politics,’ says Harris. With the play’s Scottish debut on the horizon, that parallel still stands: ‘Look at the Vicky Pryce case that’s just happened. It’s all about how we look at the political couple behind the doors.’ At the centre of A Doll’s House is Nora, a naïve young wife. Her husband Thomas (originally Torvald) is an up-and-coming
politician, and the play focuses on how their seemingly happy life is undermined by secrets and damaging marital expectations. In this National Theatre of Scotland production, directed by Graham McLaren, Scottish actor Amy Manson takes on the role of Nora. And it’s a crucial one, as Nora’s final moment of clarity makes A Doll’s House an early feminist classic.
Harris explains: ‘I wanted to re-set it just before the First World War, when the role of women politically and domestically was just turning. And at the end, it’s one of those iconic moments where you know the world is going to be different because of the actions of this one woman.’ (Yasmin Sulaiman)
Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 16 Apr–Sat 4 May.
96 THE LIST 18 Apr–16 May 2013
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HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
✽ Quiz Show Bold and original new play by Rob Drummond that starts off as a
cheesy TV talent contest before taking a darker turn. See review, page 104. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 20 Apr.
✽ Doctor Faustus Director Dominic Hill gives the Christopher Marlowe soul-selling
tragedy a modern-day spin aided by two completely new acts written by Colin Teevan. Siobhan Redmond stars as Mephistopheles. See review, page 102. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 27 Apr.
✽ Mayfesto Polemical and provocative, the Tron’s first post-Thatcher festival of politically minded theatre swings into action. See preview, page 99. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 1–Mon 20 May.
✽ Pitmen Painters Another chance to see Lee Hall’s moving and politically powerful
play inspired by the true-life story of the miners of north-east England who taught themselves to paint. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 13 to Sat 18 May.
✽ Amusements Sleepwalk Collective turns the audience into a theatre-watching machine for this sensory one-woman headphone- theatre spectacular. Back after Fringe success. Summerhall, Edinburgh, Wed 8–Thu 9 May.
✽ Translations Brian Friel’s wise and provocative play is about the control of
language and the nature of identity as King’s English meets Irish Gaelic. Adrian Dunbar directs. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 20 April.
✽ Behaviour The festival of live performance continues with work from
Claire Cunningham, Nic Green and Rob Drummond among others. Various venues, Glasgow, until Sat 11 May.
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