A Doll's House
Puppetry after Ibsen
A Doll's House (2011) was a production by The Puppetry Company Kattas Figurteater Ensemble, based on the play by Henrik Ibsen. The production opened at the culture centre Nøtterøy Kulturhus during Vestfold International Festival.
Anne M. Helgesen directed it.
Nora in an armour-like dress, live puppets, puppetry birds catching fire, illusionist surprises- in the A Doll's House version made by Kattas many elements rarely found in Ibsen's classic have a part in the experiment.
Information
(Objekt ID 26253)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | June 29, 2011 |
| Produced by | The Puppetry Company Kattas Figurteater Ensemble |
| Based on | A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen |
| Audience | Adults |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Puppetry |
| Running period | June 29, 2011 |
| Website | Kattas Figurteater Ensemble |
Requirements to venue
| Blackout | Yes |
At the webpage of the culture centre called Nøtterøy Kulturhus the following, among other things, is written about A Doll's House by The Puppetry Company Kattas Figurteater Ensemble:
"Whoever had the idea that Henrik Ibsen's issues in A Doll's House were used up and done with has to think again. For its version of A Doll's House The Puppetry Company Kattas Figurteater Ensemble has recruited mime performers, puppeteers, Butoh dancers and theatre artists from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Hungary.
The Puppetry Company Kattas Figurteater Ensemble has attacked Ibsen's classic text with great respect for Ibsen's story and character descriptions, but with a wish to place this within the expression of puppetry. In Ibsen's original text Nora states that her children have been as dolls to her. In Kattas' version the children are puppets. Whereas Torvald Helmer uses a blossoming, playful language in Ibsen's text, he finds himself with larks and squirrels in his hands in the Kattas performance.
A Doll's House is about humans in the age of materialism. It is not easy to know whether people rule the things or are ruled by them. The puppeteers/performers who play the roles of A Doll's House find themselves with puppets or objects in their hands, puppets and objects they need to give life in their despairing attempts to communicate with one another."
A Doll's House (2011) by The Puppetry Company Kattas Figurteater Ensemble was supported by The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA, travel grant/performing arts).
Sources:
Facebook, facebook.com, 12.01.2012, https://www.facebook.com/kattasfigurteater
The culture centre of Nøtterøy Kulturhus, notteroy.kulturhus.no, 12.01.2012, http://www.notteroy.kulturhus.no/index.php?id=432
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Henrik Ibsen | – Playwright |
| Anne Helgesen | – Adapted by |
| Anne Helgesen | – Direction |
| Svend Erik Kristensen | – Choreography |
| Pete Livingstone | – Music |
| Jelena Sîtar | – Dramaturge |
| Howard Lloyd | – Stage design |
| Howard Lloyd | – Costume design |
| Steinar Kaarstein | – Puppetry Design |
| Svend Erik Kristensen | – Actor (Advokat Krogstad) |
| Tessa Lepistö | – Actor (Hushjelpen) |
| Åsa Linder | – Actor (Kristine Linde) |
| Pete Livingstone | – Actor (Dr. Rank) |
| Thomas Magnus | – Actor (alternerte som Advokat Krogstad) |
| Geir Robsrud | – Actor (Torvald Helmer) |
| Thea Elisabeth Skallevold | – Actor (Nora Helmer) |
| Steinar Kaarstein | – Puppet maker |
| Karen Schønemann | – Puppet maker (Hånddukker) |
| Tordis Ødbehr | – Photo |
| Janne Beate Starup Bønes | – Technician |
| Ragna Vik | – Producer |
| Lisbeth Narud | – Advisor (Kunstnerisk rødgiver for figurer) |
| International Puppet Theatre Festival of Barents Region | September 12, 2011 |
| Stockholm Culture Festival | August 18, 2011 |
| Vestfold Festspillene | June 29, 2011 |
Bergens Tidende:
"Different, entertaining and fascinating Ibsen"
Klassekampen:
"(…) there is a lot to find joy in, perhaps particularly for those who do not know A Doll's House inside and out!"