Emily Perkins takes on A Doll's House
The fiction writer and IIML Senior Lecturer has re-imagined Ibsen's classic play for Auckland Theatre Company.
Acclaimed fiction writer and IIML Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing Emily Perkins has branched out into playwriting with an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic A Doll's House, which reviewers are describing as 'visceral', 'compelling' and 'wonderfully assured'.
Auckland Theatre Company's Artistic Director Colin McColl and Literary Unit Director Philippa Campbell approached Perkins in 2013 with an invitation to modernise the play, which debuted in Copenhagen in 1879. Its portrayal of the unravelling of a seemingly happy marriage caused an uproar at the time and remains confronting today.
'A Doll's House is famous for questioning the social straitjackets we find ourselves in, exploring the nature of responsibility and free will, and the tension between the individual and her community, autonomy and safety.' Perkins comments. 'It's often described as a feminist play...and as with all things feminist, it is humanist as well.' Read more.
New Zealand Herald reviewer Janet McAllister describes Perkin's contemporary re-imagining as 'a wonderfully assured, loose adaptation filled with sharp observations about a contemporary tribe.' Read more.
Heidi North-Bailey, writing for Theatreview says the adaptation 'goes right to the play's heart to tease out the themes that most shock [a contemporary audience].' Read more.
In an interview with the NZ Herald's Dionne Christian before the play opened, Perkins acknowledged that audiences may come to such a well-loved play 'with certain expectations. But it would be very dull to not take on a piece of work because you were protecting yourself from risks.' Read more.
A Doll's House is directed by Colin McColl and stars Laurel Devenie and Damien Avery. It is on at Auckland's Maidment Theatre until 23 May. Read more or book tickets.