By Henrik Ibsen
Director David Thacker
Designer Patrick Connellan
One of the most powerful dramas ever written comes to the Octagon from 29 October to 21 November with Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts. Following on from Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, David brings another classic of international theatre to our stage.
It’s a gripping and deeply moving story about the underlying corruption of a seemingly respectable family. Oswald Alving returns home to be with his mother, Helena, after a long period abroad. She is a well educated woman, whose radical views are in contrast to the conservative attitudes of those around her. But Oswald brings some disturbing news home with him – could it be that there is more to his deceased father than it seemed? He sets about a chain of events and skeletons are forced out of the closet, leading to a truly shocking conclusion.
David first worked on Ghosts 26 years ago when he directed an acclaimed production with a cast that included Vanessa Redgrave and Tom Wilkinson. He tells me he is confident that this classic play is still significant today and here he explaisn why:
“Ghosts is one of my favourite plays and I want people to be as moved as I was when I first saw it. It also had a profound impact on Arthur Miller’s development as a playwright, so it is only fitting that it follows our production of All My Sons. It is just as relevant to people in Bolton and the North West as it is to people in London or Oslo – just one of the reasons why the setting for this production will be Lancashire. In the context of the lies and cover-ups which are increasingly common in the politics of today, Ghosts seems almost like it was written for 2009 and not 1881!”
The wonderful George Irving, Margot Leicester, Oscar Pearce and Vanessa Kirby from the cast of All My Sons will be returning for Ghosts, and they will be joined by Russell Richardson. Margot is originally from the North West, having been brought up in Middleton and attending Bury Grammar School. She is also married to David Thacker, with whom she has worked on countless productions including works by Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, whose play Broken Glass earned her an Olivier Award nomination.
To buy tickets for Ghosts click here or call our Ticket Office on 01204 520661.
