A Doll’s House – Pre-Show Notes

Welcome to this introduction to A Doll’s House. Presented by State Theatre Company.
First performed in Denmark in December 1879, Henrik Ibsen’s work scandalized theatre audiences of his day. His play did not follow the convention of strict morals and propriety of a perfect family life. Instead, he revealed the reality that was hidden, bringing critical insight and inquiry to the human condition. This current version is an adaptation by Elena Carapetis, and the debut of the State Theatre Company Ensemble.
The audio described performances at the Dunstan Playhouse will be on Saturday 15th July and Tuesday 18th July, with the audio-description provided by Access2Arts. On Saturday 15th there will be a touch tour at 1:00pm; the introductory notes will start at 1:45pm and the performance itself at 2:00pm. On Tuesday 18th the touch tour will commence at 5.30pm; the introductory notes at 6.15pm with the performance beginning at 6.30pm. This performance will run for 2hrs 30mins, including an interval between the 2nd and 3rd Acts.
Set in three Acts, over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing day, the clouds in Nora Helmer’s sky have parted. Her husband Torvald has recovered from a grave illness and accepted a role that secures their futures. A beautiful home and a carefree life with their daughter is at their fingertips. However, Christmas brings with it an old acquaintance, a desperate stranger and a dear friend’s terminal illness, exposing devastating secrets and cold truths. As Nora’s world spins out of control she begins to realise that to move forward she must either crash, or crash through.

Set:

The playhouse stage has been opened up so that the full depth of the stage is exposed. A bank of stage lights facing the audience rises from the stage to the roof and extends the full width of the stage, arranged 9 high and 12 wide in a grid pattern. A bank of lights, 9 high and 9 wide, are similarly place on either side of the stage. A single large rectangular raised stage block is in the middle of the stage. It is 1m high, …..m wide and ….m deep. There are two shallow stairs that run the length of one end of the raised stage. This raised block stage is on a large rotating platform which completes one rotation every 30 minutes. The raised stage delineates Nora and Torvald’s house, the centre of all the action, with characters coming and going, but from which Nora seldom leaves.
The entire set is carpeted in low-pile dark blue carpet and there are 7 bright orange bucket chairs spread equidistant across the back of the set, between the rotating raised platform and the bank of lights, and 5 bright orange chairs run the length of the sides of the set, also between the bank of lights and the raised platform. Characters sit on these orange chairs at stage level, in full sight of the audience, between scenes that are played out on the raised platform.
Characters and Costume:
A Doll’s House has a cast of six adult actors, who are all part of the new State Theatre Company Ensemble. There are also two child actors sharing the role of the daughter Emmy. This version of A Doll’s House is set in modern times, although an exact year is not referenced, the costume choices are very current. The show’s dramatic lighting changes the colours and shades of the costumes at various points during the show.
Miranda Daughtry plays Nora, a young mother and wife, in her late twenties, who is at the centre of this show. Nora wears a brown sleeveless summer dress with faint gold spots and a brown leather belt at her waist. She is thin, pale and spends most of the show barefoot. She moves around the stage constantly, using exaggerated, sometimes manic, movements.
Dale March plays Torvald, Nora’s devoted husband and a very successful banker. Torvald seems slightly older than Nora, wearing an expensive blue suite, with a shirt in a lighter shade of blue. He’s hair is black parted on the side and slicked back, he is much more contained and purposeful in his movements and mannerisms, in stark contrast to his wife.
Rachael Burke plays Kristine, Nora’s high school best friend, who comes back into Nora’s life after many years. Kristine wears her blond hair in a loose ponytail, a light blue button up shirt, that has a rounded collar, tucked into a denim skirt. Kristine is quiet and reserved.
Rashidi Edward plays Krogstad, who works at the bank with Torvold. He also went to school with Nora and Kristine. Krogstad is black, tall and slim, with short black hair, he speaks with an accent. He is dressed in office ware, but not as styled as Torvald; his suit is brown, with a similar shade brown tie and black brogue shoes.
Nathan O’Keefe plays Dr Rank, Torvald’s best friend and a regular guest in Nora & Torvald’s home. He is much more causal in his appearance and physicality, with dark blonde hair, glasses and a patchy beard. He wears dark denim jeans, a casual button up blue shirt and black sneakers.
Anna Steen plays Anna, who has been home help for Nora’s family for many years. Currently she nannies Nora & Torvald’s daughter Emmy. Anna wears practical clothes: light denim jeans, a simple grey t-shirt and white sand shoes, and her hair is loose in blonde curls.
Halley Grey and Clio Tinsley alternately play Emmy, the 5 yo daughter of Nora and Torvald. Emmy is never very far away from Anna. She wears jeans and a blue denim shirt, and often plays on an iPad, wearing large pink headphones, while the adults talk.

Production Credits

Cast
Kristine – Rachel Burke
Nora – Miranda Daughtry
Krogstad – Rashidi Edward
Torvald – Dale March
Dr Rank – Nathan O’Keefe
Anna – Anna Steen
Emmy – (alternately) Haley Grey and Clio Tinsley
Production
Director – Geordie Brookman
Adapting Playwright – Elena Carapetis
Set & Lighting designer – Geoff Cobham
Costume Designer – Ailsa Paterson
Composer – Alan John
Sound Designer – Andrew Howard
Stage Manager – Hollee Gunter
Assistant Stage Manager – Mark Heuer
Chaperone – Abbie Johnstone

Access Information

Tickets are available through BASS on 131 246 to request access seating and inform the operator of your requirements.
Please ensure you tell the box office that you are planning to use the audio description. Headsets can be collected in foyers of each venue near box office - from one hour prior to show time.
With construction works at Adelaide Festival Centre, recommended drop off locations have changed. The recommended Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre drop off zone is at the northern end of the Riverbank Footbridge on War Memorial Drive (walk across the Footbridge to Dunstan Playhouse) or at the Intercontinental Hotel (walk north along the lane way to the Riverbank). There is also a drop off area and two accessible car spaces on lower Festival Drive, accessible from the west via Montefiore Road.
Taxi ranks are located on King William Street, outside the Casino and Railway
Ticket holders can access pre-purchased discounted rates at Wilson Adelaide Central car park at 225 North Terrace.
These pre-show notes have been produced by Kari Seeley and Ruth Weldon for Access2Arts.
For more information on audio described performances please contact Jody Holdback or Gaelle Mellis at Access2Arts using the email address