A family dinner where the past refuses to stay buried—and neither will the lies.
Helene Alving leads an outwardly contented life. On the eve of the 10th anniversary of her husband's death, she is about to open an orphanage as a memorial to him. To mark this occasion, her bohemian painter son Oswald has returned from Paris. Helene plans to take the opportunity to tell Oswald the truth about his father. But ghosts of the past erupt during an eventful evening, bringing the facade of civilised family life crashing down.
Acting
Cathy Belton's restrained unraveling is masterclass territory.
Direction
O'Rowe traps you in one room as the walls close in psychologically.
Writing
Ibsen's 1881 play, sharpened until it draws blood.
Director
Mark O'Rowe
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mark O'Rowe adapted this from Henrik Ibsen's 1881 play, which was so scandalous it was banned across Europe for its frank treatment of venereal disease and incest.
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