Nora

It is one of the most influential plays ever written and remains highly topical: *Nora, or A Doll’s House* by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, first published in 1879. It is no coincidence that the play is included on the World Heritage List for documents. In this timeless classic, a woman tries to break free from the expectations of others – particularly those of her husband. Her quest for freedom and self-respect is painfully recognisable. For how equal are men and women in our contemporary society?

Sarah Sluimer, a columnist for publications including NRC and author of the successful play *En ze maakte een kind* (*And She Had a Child*), has adapted the work with a keen eye for current tensions in women’s emancipation. Sexual freedom is celebrated through all manner of open relationships, and the traditional family is no longer taken for granted everywhere. On the other hand, so-called ‘tradwives’ glorify the 1950s housewife, whilst a growing group of young men yearn for conservative gender roles. Leading actors Waldemar Torenstra and Judith Noyons step into the shoes of this famous stage couple and, in this poignant and confrontational production directed by Nina Spijkers, demonstrate how gender roles can stifle people.