Tag Archives: Henrik Ibsen

“The worst enemy of truth and freedom in our society is the compact majority.” — Henrik Ibsen

Posted on March 20, 2026 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. Some posts from my archive: This is a doozy, an excerpt from an amazing book made up of transcribed lectures on Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg, by legendary actress and acting teacher Stella Adler. It’s a great … Continue reading →

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Fedelma Cullen: the greatest performance I’ve ever seen

Posted on October 23, 2025 by sheila

When I was a kid, and my family was in Ireland, my mother took me and 2 of my siblings to a production of A Doll’s House at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Dad stayed home with Siobhan, who was … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Henrik Ibsen

Posted on March 20, 2018 by sheila

Famous acting teacher Stella Adler in a transcribed lecture to her acting class on playing Ibsen. Adler BEGGED her students to stop thinking about themselves and about their emotions. She wanted them to be curious about the world, about context, … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Henrik Ibsen

Posted on March 20, 2014 by sheila

James Joyce and Ibsen James Joyce, as a young man, was an enormous fan of Henrik Ibsen, who was doing something very radical and very new with his plays. Here’s an excerpt from Richard Ellmann’s biography in regards to Joyce … Continue reading →

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Quotes on acting 8: Stella Adler on playing Ibsen

Posted on June 6, 2010 by sheila

You have to learn the size of Ibsen. The size of the conflict. The size of the land and how it stuck out into the sea. The size of the darkness. The snowfalls and the sparkling glaciers. The mountains. Surrounded … Continue reading →

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Ibsen’s Importance

Posted on September 28, 2006 by sheila

I really liked this analysis of Ibsen. It continues to blow me away that there were those, at the beginning of the 20th century, who were so interested in Ibsen, so turned on by what he was doing – that … Continue reading →

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Translate, Adapt

Posted on March 16, 2006 by sheila

Interesting analysis of Andrew Upton’s adaptation of Hedda Gabler – being done in Sydney right now, with Cate Blanchett in the lead. I found it fascinating – as I do most issues of translation, especially in the theatre. How does … Continue reading →

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The Books: “Hedda Gabler” (Henrik Ibsen)

Posted on July 19, 2005 by sheila

Next in my Daily Book Excerpt: Next on my script shelf Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen Hedda, Hedda, Hedda … I know you’re bored … but is that any reason to behave so?? Hedda Gabler. The plot is simple: Recently … Continue reading →

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The Books: “The Wild Duck” (Henrik Ibsen)

Posted on July 18, 2005 by sheila

Next in my Daily Book Excerpt: Next on my script shelf: The Wild Duck (Dover Thrift Editions), by Henrik Ibsen. The Wild Duck is next. Ibsen’s commentary on the split within the modern man: the things he needs to do … Continue reading →

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The Books: “Enemy of the People” (Henrik Ibsen)

Posted on July 17, 2005 by sheila

Next in my Daily Book Excerpt: Next on my script shelf: An Enemy of the People (Penguin Plays), by Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen was, above all else, a social critic. His plays were about problems in the society at large: the … Continue reading →

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