Nora : A Doll's House

A fresh, contemporary reimagining of Ibsen's revolutionary masterpiece.

Essential for Ibsen fans and feminist theatre enthusiasts.

About the Ebook

'You've lies in the whites of your eyes, Nora. What have you done…?'

Nora is the perfect wife and mother. She is dutiful, beautiful and everything is always in its right place. But when a secret from her past comes back to haunt her, her life rapidly unravels. Over the course of three days, Nora must fight to protect herself and her family or risk losing everything.

Henrik Ibsen's brutal portrayal of womanhood caused outrage when it was first performed in 1879. This bold new version by Stef Smith reframes the drama in three different time periods. The fight for women's suffrage, the Swinging Sixties and the modern day intertwine in this urgent, poetic play that asks how far have we really come in the past hundred years?

Nora : A Doll's House was first produced by the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, in 2019, at Tramway, Glasgow. A new production opened at the Young Vic, London, in February 2020.

It was a finalist for the 2020 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, awarded annually to celebrate women who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre.

Reviews

'A radical, stunning reworking which thrums with relevance and power… a wordsmith at the top of her poetic game... a classic play reinvented for our time' BritishTheatre.com

'An intense, ambitious survey of women's shifting roles, which amplifies each step in Ibsen's elegantly crafted story, as though Nora's stamping through a cathedral in Doc Martens… Smith's ingenious dialogue makes what could be massively complicated feel simple and legible' Time Out

'Smith's update is smart and thoughtful, balancing a sense of feminist history and activism with the tightness of a thriller and some rich personal drama' The Stage

'Stef Smith's excellent adaptation... a provocation infused with Ibsen's radical spirit' Guardian

'A beautiful and explosively significant piece of theatre' Scotsman

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Modern adaptation of a classic feminist text.
• Renewed urgency for contemporary audiences.
• Published by Nick Hern Books, leading contemporary theatre publisher.
• Ibsen reimagined for today's world.

About the Author

Stef Smith is a playwright whose work includes: The Outrun, adapted from Amy Liptrot's memoir (Edinburgh International Festival, 2024); Enough (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 2019); Nora : A Doll's House (Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, 2019; revived at Young Vic, London, 2020); Girl in the Machine (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 2017); Human Animals (Royal Court Theatre, London, 2016); Swallow (Traverse Theatre, 2015); Remote (NT Connections 2015); And The Beat Goes On (Random Accomplice/Horsecross); Cured (The Arches, Glasgow); Woman of the Year (Òran Mór); Grey Matter (Lemon Tree, Aberdeen); Falling/Flying (Tron, Glasgow); Roadkill (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2010 & 2011).

Awards include: Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Production, Amnesty International Expression of Freedom Award, Herald Angel Award, Total Theatre Award for Innovation, The Scotsman Fringe First Award (Roadkill); Scottish Arts Club Theatre Award for Drama, The Scotsman Fringe First Award (Swallow).

She has been awarded the New Playwright Award by Playwrights Studio, Scotland. Stef was a member of the Royal Court National Writers Group in 2013. She is an Associate Artist at the Traverse Theatre.

Publication Details

Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Publication Date: 13 February 2020

Print Length: 96 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781788503273

Format: Ebook

Language: English

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access my ebook?

Download The Grey Hill App and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.

Can I read it online?

Yes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at reader.thegreyhill.com.

I can't see my ebook — what should I do?

Tap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.

Can I gift this ebook?

Yes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: Buy a Gift Card. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.