A DOLL HOUSE

World Theatre Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse 13 - 17 February 2013

Smock Alley Theatre April 2012

Rather than a feminist rallying call, Quinn’s production gives a riveting exposure of the limits of love. 

Helen Meany, The Guardian

By Henrik Ibsen

It’s Christmas and Nora Helmer is going crazy squirreling away presents and decorations, spending the money her husband hasn’t yet earned as the new bank manager.

But don’t worry – Pan Pan’s version of Henrik Ibsen’s modern classic doesn’t dwell on the current recession. We’re looking at communication, relationships, and social conventions and how we are FIRST AND FOREMOST HUMAN BEINGS. After all, people shouldn’t always be thinking of themselves, especially women.

“While engagingly arch with his contemporary embellishments, director Gavin Quinn is here uncharacteristically faithful to the structure of a modern classic. Few others could make such loyalty seem subversive. By the time Judith Roddy’s exquisite Nora appears, pretty as a picture but admirably dangerous, spilling Christmas baubles and expensive toys, the elaborations of his dialogue already seem suspect. A costume drama would try to palm off Ibsen’s leaden exposition as airy conversation, but Pan Pan’s curiously absorbing delivery, as brisk and psychologically invested as a line run, contentedly exposes the artificiality of naturalism.” 

Peter Crawley, The Irish Times

“Nora is eternally childish and Pan Pan’s production – as inventive as always – heightens the suggestion that Nora’s behaviour is for her husband’s enjoyment. Roddy is a delight as she manically shrieks about her happy home, and Áine Ní Mhuirí offers particularly strong support.” 

Eithne Shortall, The Sunday Times

“Pan Pan’s perennial determination to find and show reverence for the play’s intended values rather than re-interpret them, as others have done, to suit directorial prejudice, makes for fascinating and profoundly viewing. It is Charlie Bonner’s stooped, seemingly immovable Krogstad who becomes the most memorable figure in the play. Bruno Schwengl’s almost artlessly ugly costume designs are inspired.” 

Emer O Kelly, Sunday Independent

“Pan Pan Theatre’s production of Ibsen’s classic is an uncomfortable experience. Director Gavin Quinn and designer Aedín Cosgrove seem to be x-raying rather than reviving the drama of a young woman who comes to realise that she must leave her stifling marriage and make her own way in the world. Rather than a feminist rallying call, Quinn’s production gives a riveting exposure of the limits of love.” 

Helen Meany, The Guardian

Directed by Gavin Quinn

Set and lighting by Aedín Cosgrove

Costumes by Bruno Schwengl

Produced by Aoife White

Line Produced by Lian Bell

Cast: Charlie Bonner, Dermot Magennis, Pauline Hutton, Áine Ní Mhuirí, Judith Roddy and Daniel Reardon