Ghosts - Ibsen

The title, literally translated is Norwegian for what we call zombies rather than ghosts and it is about the trap we people are caught in when we rely on assumptions and operate on petty societal beliefs from the past. In Ghosts the past comes back to haunt the characters including the true young man who finds he has syphilis inherited from the father while having lived a decent life.

The players have received much acclaim for their rendering of this deep play that is difficult to perform with conviction in these changed times. Changed as they might be in point of fact, the tendency still leans to recidivism and that seems to be what the play most emphasises.

The story
A young woman - Mrs Alvers lives in a Norwegian small town. She finds, after marriage that her husband is a wastrel and a philanderer falls for another man who sends her back to the husband and perform her wifely duties. He has decided to become a pastor. She returns to the drunken husband and endures many years of grievous mistreatment in silence, covering up his travesties. The neighbours are prepared to live along with the lie for the time being.

She has a son Oswald by the drunk and sends him away to get a clean upbringing, while she sacrifices her life to protect the reputation of her 'son's parents' as much as she can.

As the lie unravels back march the ghosts returning from what she has hoped would be the dead and buried. Oswald is desolated by his mother's condition both physical and emotional. The story unfolds as each ghost takes it's toll on all the characters.

•  Pastor Manders -  Iain Glen •  Mrs Alving - Lesley Sharp •  Oswald - Harry Treadaway •  Regine - Jessica Raine •  Engstrand - Malcolm Storry

 • Director    - Iain Glen  • Design  - Stephen Brimson Lewis  • Lighting - Oliver Fenwick  •  Sound  - Richard Hammarton  • Producer  - Thelma Holt / Nica Burns