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Burning Down the House

A Breach Theatre and Schwarzman Centre Production
25 Sep 2026 - 10 Oct 2026
25 Sep 2026
-
10 Oct 2026

Who has the right to tell which stories?
Where’s the line between inspiration and exploitation?
Does any of that matter, if the story’s good?

Scandinavia, 1879.

Playwright Henrik Ibsen scandalises audiences with A Doll's House, whose heroine Nora walks out on her family.

But to one woman, the story is all too familiar. Laura Kieler, a young writer who had turned to Ibsen for help, finds that he has stolen her harrowing circumstances as the play’s raw material. As Ibsen’s literary fame ignites, Laura’s life falls apart - she must fight to save her reputation and her relationship with her family.

In Burning Down the House, Laura steps out of Nora’s shadow and takes a theatrical flamethrower to Ibsen’s version of events.  

This new production by Breach, the acclaimed company behind After the Act (Royal Court and national tour) and It’s True, It’s True, It’s True (BBC 4), has emerged from the research of leading Ibsen expert Kirsten Shepherd, Professor of English and Theatre Studies at Oxford University.  Kirsten, research assistant Tzen Sam, and translator Gaye Kynoch have been uncovering and translating Laura’s articles, letters and plays to assist Breach in creating this new production.

 

Additional Events

Post-show Q&A following main performance (with BSL interpretation): Saturday 3 October, 19:30

Join Breach creatives Billy Barrett and Ellice Stevens for a conversation with Oxford University researchers Professor Kirsten Shepherd and Tzen Sam about how the show developed from their new research into the remarkable story of Laura Kieler.

 

Post-Show Discussion - “Can Nora Speak English - Translating Stage Worlds to World Stages”: Wednesday 7 October, evening

Literary Translator Gaye Kynoch, Oxford University researcher Tzen Sam and Breach creative Ellice Stevens explore the process of translating playscripts. Kynoch’s new translations of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Laura Kieler’s Men of Honour have both informed Burning Down The House.

 

Men of Honour Rehearsed Reading: Saturday 10 October, 2pm

The cast of Burning Down the House perform a rehearsed reading of Laura Kieler’s Men of Honour, her bitingly satirical response to her life story being stolen for A Doll’s House.

Free to Burning Down the House bookers, but tickets should be booked in advance.

Find out more

 

Accessibility

BSL interpreted performance on Saturday 3 October, 19:30 that will also include a BSL Interpretation of the post-show talk.

Chilled performance on Saturday 3 October, 14:00. This performance allows audience members a more casual environment where the house lights remain on at a low level and audiences can make noise and come and go from the auditorium as necessary.

You can find out more information on accessibility at the Schwarzman Centre, including details of how to apply for our access card to be able to view and book a complimentary companion ticket.

If you have any questions or require further guidance, please contact tickets@schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk.

Duration:
approx 80 minutes without an interval

 

Age guidance: 
Recommended 14+

 

Access shows:
BSL Interpreted Saturday 3 October 19:30 (including post show Q&A)


Chilled performance Saturday 3 October 14:00

Biographies

Peter Clements

Devisor/Performer, Henrik Ibsen

Sophie Steer

Devisor/Performer, Suzannah Ibsen

Ellice Stevens

Devisor/Performer, Nora

Jacoba Williams

Devisor/Performer, Laura Kieler

Yasser Zadeh

Devisor/Performer, Victor Kieler, Torvald

Billy Barrett

Director

Laura Hopkins

Set Designer

Moa Johansson

Costume Designer, Associate Set Designer

Will Monks

Lighting Designer

Leanne Pinder

Movement Director

Hugh Sheehan

Composer, Sound Designer

Credits

Director: Billy Barrett

Writers: Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett

Academic Lead: Kirsten Shepherd, Professor of English and Theatre Studies, University of Oxford

Research Assistant: Tzen Sam, DPhil candidate at the Faculty of English, Jesus College

Literary Translator: Gaye Kynoch

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