Everyman Theatre

Ghosts (by Henrik Ibsen)

Ghosts auditions will take place on Monday 27 February from 7.30pm in the clubroom at Chapter Arts Centre. There is no need to make an appointment just turn up! For more information please click here.

This play privately in Britain and compared to an "open sewer" at the time. Finally performed in a public theatre in about 1925.

Synopsis

Helen Alving is about to dedicate an orphanage she has built in the memory of her dead husband, Captain Alving. She reveals to her spiritual advisor, Pastor Manders, that she has hidden the evils of her marriage, and has built the orphanage to deplete her husband's wealth so that their son, Oswald, might not inherit anything from him. Pastor Manders had previously advised her to return to her husband despite his philandering, and she followed his advice in the belief that her love for her husband would eventually reform him.

However her husband's philandering continued until his death, and Mrs. Alving was unable to leave him prior for fear of being shunned by the community. During the action of the play she discovers that her son Oswald (whom she had sent away so that he would not be corrupted by his father) is suffering from inherited syphilis, and (worse) has fallen in love with Regina Engstrand, Mrs. Alving's maid, who is revealed to be an illegitimate daughter of Captain Alving, and thereby Oswald's own half-sister.

The play concludes with Mrs. Alving having to decide whether or not to euthanize her son Oswald in accordance with his wishes. Her choice is left unknown.

Casting Ideas

It has a cast of five characters, 2 females and three males:

Mrs Alving ( about 40-50)

Osvald Alving ( about 25 )

Regina Engstrand ( about 20-23 )

Jacob Engstrand (  about 55-65)

Pastor Manders ( about 45 - 50 )

If you would like further information about this production- please email us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Everyman Theatre's production will be directed by Barry Slack and is due to play at Chapter Arts Centre from 22-26 May 2012.