In the Shadow of Nora (NO)
When Ibsen wrote A Dolls’ House , he used the story from Laura Kieler (1849- 1932). She asked him to deny that she was the real Nora, but Ibsen refused.
Directed by Liv Hege Nylund / Nord-Trønderlag Teater
In the shadow of Nora tells the story of the author Laura Kieler. She was seventeen years old when Ibsen’s Brand struck like a thunderbolt, especially in the pietistic society of the time. She wrote a novel in response, which she called Brand’s Daughters. Laura sent the book to Ibsen, and received her first letter from the author, who encouraged her to continue writing. She travelled to Copenhagen, where she met her future husband, Victor Kieler – and Henrik Ibsen. The playwright invited her to Dresden, where she also met his wife Suzannah.
Her father died, and it was discovered that he had been embezzling public money. Laura fled with her mother back to Denmark. She married, had a son, who died – and later Victor Kieler contracted tuberculosis.
Borrowed money secretly
Then comes the true story that Ibsen made use of in A Dolls’ House: Without her husband’s knowledge, she borrowed money to enable her to take him to a warmer climate at the doctor’s recommendation. She confided in Suzannah. Laura Kieler was not able to repay the debt. However, she did not desert her family like Nora. Her children were taken from her, and she was committed to an asylum and separated from her husband.
After two years she returned. She had been writing all the time, and was still in contact with Ibsen. In Men of Honour she challenged the followers of Brandes and Bohemianism. Ibsen and Bjørnson both approved the play, but it made her some powerful enemies. Laura was constantly criticised in public about the Nora story.
She confronted Ibsen and tried to make him deny that she was Nora, but Ibsen said he was not able to do so.
A recognised author
Laura Kieler was widely recognised. She published 25 books altogether, and gave about a thousand lectures. In the Shadow of Nora, a book about Laura Kieler’s life, was published in 1999 by the journalist Odd Birger Grønli, who also wrote the stage version.
With Anitra Terese Eriksen as Laura. Pianist: Per Christian Revholt Dramaturg and director: Liv Hege Nylund. Composer: Asgeir Skrove. Author: Odd Birger Grønli.