Program
A Doll's House
by
Henrik Ibsen
adapted by Luke Monsour and Cindy Monsour
Directed by
Luke Monsour
1st to 10th May
About the writer
Henrik Ibsen (20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright. He is considered one of the world's pre-eminent writers of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama".
He pioneered theatrical realism but also wrote lyrical epic works. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder, and When We Dead Awaken. In 2014 Ibsen was considered the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare.
About the Play
Nora Helmer lives a perfect life with her three children and newly minted Bank Director husband Torvald, however this life is built on a secret she has carried for years: a deceit she engaged in to save Torvald’s life, a deceit that if discovered would destroy her home and family. When a blackmail threatens to expose her secret, Nora is forced to confront the reality of her marriage, her life, and herself.
The play explores the emotional cost of honesty, the struggle for self-determination, and the courage it takes to see one’s life clearly.
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a high-stakes domestic drama that remains as vital today as when it was written in 1879. A landmark of modern drama, the play shocked audiences around the world with its unflinching examination of marriage, gender roles, and societal expectations.
Perhaps the most widely known and read English version of A Doll’s House is William Archer’s translation from 1889. While remaining true to Ibsen’s core themes, the writing was specific for the English audience of the time. This new adaptation, while leaning on Archer’s and other early translations, has several intentions: to steer the writing back towards Ibsen’s original pre-translation text and more clearly examine the humanity of the script; to modernise the dialogue for today’s audiences and actors, while retaining much of the colour and flavour that Ibsen himself had written; and to pull focus on Nora’s love for her children and the deep struggle she faces. In exploring the script this way, not only much of the lightness and humour became clearer, but the roles of all the characters appeared to come forward, underlining Ibsen’s own description of the play – that is it first and foremost a humanist play, about humans. It is complex, and messy, and difficult, while at the same time it is full of love, devotion, honour and perseverance.
About the Director
For this production of A Doll’s House, Luke is particularly interested in exploring moral complexity and emotional subtlety, creating space for actors to discover the humanity and inner life of each character.
Luke Monsour has been an active member of Brisbane’s arts scene for more decades than he’d prefer to say and long-standing contributor to the Villanova Players. As a performer for VP, he has appeared in numerous productions including Snapshots from Home (2002), The Busybody, Rumors, Lottie: The Musical, Indian Ink, The Real Inspector Hound, An Italian Straw Hat, and 2019’s The Kursk (as Admiral Popov).
As a director for the Villanova Players, Luke has helmed Tennessee William’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Alan Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings, and most recently Joanna Murray-Smith’s Ninety (2022). He aims to bring to every production a collaborative, actor-centred approach, valuing generosity, curiosity, and emotional truth in the rehearsal room.
