Now in its 18th year, Class Act began by teaching contemporary issues, such as bullying and substance abuse, to school children in a non-threatening manner. In recent times, Class Act has graduated to adult theatre, notably taking on Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Othello.
Ibsen’s ‘Ghosts’, this time directed by Stephen Lee, is by far Class Act’s most contextual, adult, and risky production to date. When it first premiered, promoters, printing services, and even Prince Oscar of Norway quickly disassociated themselves from the play. One English critic later described it as ’dirty deed done in public’. Contemporaries of Ibsen considered his plays morbid, nauseating, and menacing indulgences of a gloomy sort of soul.
Commentators on recent productions are divided in appraisal, both of character context, and in the motivation of Ibsen himself. Michael Billington of The Guardian laments:
“This great, grimly ironic play is treated like a coarse melodrama. Hardly a moment when Ibsen’s humour shines through.”
On the other hand, Charles Spencer of the Telegraph effuses:
“A chilling, thrilling account of the past poisoning the present.”
Ibsen remains a controversial and divisive playwright. He explores dark recesses and illuminates pitfalls, with a moral obligation to expose society’s ills in order to cure them. Class Act continues to focus on contemporary issues, this time for adults, and it is never too late to start learning.
‘Ghosts’ will run from October 24 to November 3.