As part of the Ibsen Year 2006, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) is staging eleven performances of Henrik Ibsen’s rarely performed play, 'Love’s Comedy'.
21/04/2006 :: 'Love’s Comedy' will be performed by RADA’s final year acting students as one of their graduating productions. The production will be directed by Bardy Thomas, RADA’s Dean of Studies, and designed by Lorna Ritchie, a final year student on the Graduate Diploma in Theatre Design course.
Henrik Ibsen is widely recognised as the father of modern drama and it is said that he is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare. 'Love’s Comedy', written in 1863, explores the themes of love and marriage that are so central to Ibsen’s work. This is a unique opportunity for audiences to see this neglected piece by a major pioneer of European theatre in the UK and his ‘first assured masterpiece’.
Prefiguring many of the themes of his celebrated later works, 'Love’s Comedy' explores the paradox of love and conventional marriage. Centering on two students, Falk and Lind, and their relationships with Anna and Svanhild, the action takes place as the young couples negotiate their way through social obligations, passion and security towards realisation. The first of Ibsen’s plays to the tackle the contemporary social issues which form the basis for all of his future works, 'Love’s Comedy' is a complex mixture of naturalism and myth, ideals and realism, comedy and tragedy which demonstrates Ibsen’s ability to protest against the constraints and contradictions of nineteenth century society.
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art gives talented young actors, designers and technicians the finest training possible for careers in theatre, film, television and radio. For over 100 years RADA has sought to attain this goal and its success is measured by the achievements of the many world-renowned artists who have trained there including Richard Attenborough, Eve Best, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins, Mike Leigh, Adrian Lester, Alan Rickman, Diana Rigg and Juliet Stevenson. RADA programmes reach over 2,000 full and part-time students each year through core courses in acting, theatre technical arts, design and directing.
The Norwegian Ambassador, who is the Honorary Patron of the production of 'Love’s Comedy', will attend a special performance on Wednesday 7 June.
The event is supported by Allied Irish Bank and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Love's Comedy
31 May - 10 June
George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Malet Street, London WC1.
Performances commence at 7.15pm with matinées at 2.15pm on Saturday 3 and Wednesday 7 June
RADA Box Office: 020 7908 4800