Laura Hill Photo: Supplied
It was the door slam heard around the world, shocking audiences. Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play A Doll’s House caused outrage with the central character, Nora Helmer, walking out on her family, leaving behind her children and husband in search of herself and a more fulfilling life.
The suggestion a woman would put herself first, rather than aspiring to be a wife and mother divided audiences when it first premiered. Now, A Doll’s House, Part 2, written in 2017 by American playwright Lucas Hnath, is showing at the Herald Theatre in a collaboration between Plumb Theatre and Auckland Live.
The story picks up 15 years later when Nora returns to the house she left, after discovering her husband Torvald never finalised their divorce. She faces prosecution and potentially prison for having lived as a single woman since her dramatic exit. Her daughter, Emmy, is now grown-up forcing Nora to confront her own past, while determined to be heard and understood.
Directed by Paul Gittens, actor and writer Laura Hill (Shortland Street) portrays the character of Nora, while Stephen Butterworth (Cowboy Bebop) plays the buttoned-up Torvald.
A stand-alone production which doesn’t require audiences to have seen the original, A Doll’s House, Part 2 is written in modern day language but with powerful and captivating dialogue and sweeping monologues. While it deals with heavy issues and societal expectations, there is humour sprinkled throughout.
Laura Hill talks to Culture 101 about learning to take up space in the role of Nora.
A Doll's House, Part 2 is at Herald Theatre until 1 December.
