Children of Nora
Nora slams the door of her house, ending her marriage. It became one of the most famous final scenes in theater history. Robert Icke wrote and directed a sequel in which he shows how Nora's choices affect her children.
Location Rabozaal
Duration 2 hours, no intermission
Language Dutch, with English surtitles on Thursdays
Robert Icke previously wrote and directed an entirely new version of Oedipus
for ITA, which was acclaimed by the press and public. In 2020 Icke directed Children of Nora, the sequel to one of the most influential stage works ever written. In it, Nora leaves her husband after realizing that their relationship is mainly about status and honor. The fact that Nora leaves at the end of the play caused quite a stir at the time. It served as a major boost in the rise of the women's movement. After all, the woman chose to be independent from the man. But how did this choice affect her children?
Robert Icke: ‘Everyone knows about the argument - the big argument, the ferocious, final argument, the one that ends the relationship. The one where the decision is made and somebody leaves and the door is slammed. Only, this door slam is the most famous door slam in dramatic literature. -|-Its echo has reverberated down the ages - causing both controversy and celebration since A Doll’s House was first performed. Only Nora and Torvald, the protagonists of Ibsen's play have children. How do they feel? What happens to them after their mother leaves? Taking as its starting point the text of A Doll’s House, Children of Nora is about all the things we inherit which don't appear on the will.’
From 2020, Robert Icke is the Ibsen Artist in Residence at ITA and he is supported by the Philip Loubser Foundation. The Ibsen Artist in Residence supports artists with an international reputation, so that they can develop an intensive bond with ITA.
In the press
"Well portrayed, Marieke Heebink's extroverted Emmy and Steven Van Watermeulen's neurotic Ivar, with strong counterplay from Minne Koole and Joep Paddenburg". - Parool
"The strong cast and the form Robert Icke chooses give wings to his Children of Nora." - Parool
"The magisterial playing of Heebink and Van Watermeulen forms the emotional heart of this kaleidoscopic performance, in which Icke presents small steps and countless clever hints and associations into the abyss at which they are standing." - NRC ★★★★
Credits
after Henrik Ibsen
written and directed by Robert Icke
scenography Hildegard Bechtler
with Claire Bender, Aus Greidanus jr., Marieke Heebink, Jasmijn de Kloet, Minne Koole, Kate Muda, Joep Paddenburg, Frieda Pittoors, Steven Van Watermeulen
translation Peter van Kraaij, Maria Luttikhuis
lighting design Tom Visser
sound design Paul Arditti
costumes Wojciech Dziedzic
private producers Joost en Marcelle Kuiper, Joachim Fleury, Familie Staal Fonds
with thanks to Philip Loubser Foundation
supported by Ammodo
assistant director Gilles Groot
assistant dramaturgy Maria Luttikhuis
assistant scenography Ramon Huijbrechts, Leanne Vandenbussche
head of technical staff Reyer Meeter
production leader Edith den Hamer
technical staff Stijn van der Leeuw (1e inspiciënt), Emile Bleeker, David Logger, Manon van den Nouland, Stephan Pot, Erwin Sterk, Tim Vleugel, Ruud de Vos
costume department Farida Bouhbouh, Wim van Vliet (head)
tailor Jacolien Honders
hair & make-up David Verswijveren
set construction Kloosterboer B.V., Levtec, Atelier Opera
casting advice Hans Kemna, Martha Mojet Kindercasting
accompanimant children Anna Kostelijk
photography Dim Balsem
graphical design Serena Kloet, studio ITA
publicity Kornelis van der Krieke
WITH COVID ADMISSION TICKET
To visit this performance you need a valid COVID admission ticket. This can be a negative test result, a vaccination certificate or proof that you have recovered from corona (proof of recovery). You must convert one of these into a QR code in the CoronaCheck app or a print via CoronaCheck.nl. Only then will you have a valid COVID admission ticket.
