Ghosts Tickets

Audiences arriving at the Duchess Theatre in London this February will experience a tale of haunting of a different kind – one that focuses on the events of the past and how they affect the present rather than spectres roaming the grounds of age old structures.

The production is Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts”, a story of hypocrisy, love and its betrayal, with two leading actors bringing the characters to life. They take the form of Lesley Sharp and Iain Glen, who were both seen earlier in 2009 in the BBC adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank”. The pair have enjoyed a long career, both appearing in numerous stage and screen roles.

Sharp has screen credits that range from “Clocking Off” (2000) to “Afterlife” (2005); appearances that she has made whilst also fitting stage experience into her schedule. For the theatre, her credits include “The God of Hell” at the Donmar Warehouse in 2005, followed by “Harper Regan” at the Cottesloe National Theatre in 2008 and, more recently, her appearance alongside Diane Vickers in the 2009 revival of “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice”, which continues until January 2010 at the Vaudeville Theatre.

Her co-star Iain Glen will also be taking on the reins of the director in the show, making this his directorial debut. He has enjoyed a career that has included film work and stage work, with “The Blue Room” (Donmar Warehouse) and “Martin Guerre” (Prince Edward Theatre) both earning him nominations for Laurence Olivier Awards. His other stage credits have included roles in “The Crucible” at the Gielgud Theatre in 2006 and “Hedda Gabler” at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 2005. He has also fit numerous high profile Hollywood movies into his schedule, making him recognisable for those that have seen the likes of “Kingdom of Heaven”, “Resident Evil: Extinction” and the Ridley Scott film “Kingdom of Heaven”.

Ibsen’s “Ghosts” introduces us to the character of Mrs Alving, who is opening an orphanage in honour of her late husband in 1881. The widower s hoping that she will soon be able to forget her husband and all of his philanthropic ways, but before long she is instead given new reasons in which she is still haunted by her past. First is the arrival of her son Osvald, who has been travelling for some time and suffering from syphilis, with matters taking a complex turn with his announcement that he is in love with Regina Engstrand. At first this seems innocent enough, but Mrs Alving knows something that he doesn’t; something that will force him to re-interpret how close to her he really is.

“Ghosts” lands at the Duchess Theatre from Tuesday 23rd February 2010 (previews from Thursday 11th February 2010) to Saturday 15th May 2010.