Oliver Alvin-Wilson (Pastor Manders) and Flora Montgomery (Helene Alving) - Image: David Monteith-Hodge
Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts was considered controversial when published in the late 19th Century due to some of the shocking themes it explores. It looks at the impact of “the sins of the father” and offers complex characters, all with their own skeletons in the closet. Richard Eyre’s adaptation, first staged in London in 2013, offers a fresh and modern take on the play, ensuring that some 150 years after its first publication, this story of family secrets, lies and intrigue feels accessible and relevant.
The story centres on the widow Helene Alving, trying to atone for the debauchery of her late husband, having spent their marriage trying to protect their won, Oswald, from knowing the extent of his corruption. She seeks practical and moral guidance from the upstanding Pastor Manders, a man with a few secrets of his own.
In this production, Manders is played by Oliver Alvin-Wilson. We caught up with him to find out more about the character, the play and its relevance to modern audiences.
What attracted you to this particular play and this particular adaptation?
What attracted me was that the road map to bring these characters to life seemed challenging. It’s very sophisticated storytelling which requires a robust nimbleness to execute. I think Richard’s adaptation cuts out some of the fact and makes an occasionally quite dense play more palatable.
Ghosts was considered scandalous back in the late 19th century when it was first published. We’re probably a bit less easily shocked now but what parts of the play do you think will really resonate with modern audiences?
I thought and now know from the feedback we’ve been getting that all of the main themes of this play still resonate…and perhaps always will. Questioning our morals, having a faith, our duty to ourselves and loved ones, forbidden love, domestic violence, illness, poverty, the power of the state and more (don’t want to ruin the ending) are all timeless issues.
What can audiences expect from director Kwame Owusu’s take on Ghosts?
Kwame’s take is confident, tasteful, raw and faithful to the world that the adaptation was written for.
The Jermyn Street Theatre is an intimate performance space – how do you think having the audience so close to the actors will impact their experience (and yours come to that!)
I think the intimacy allows the audience to peer into these characters’ souls even more. It also feels like they’re right in the room with us. And although you still have to project and communicate this quite muscular text, the space demands for you to truly connect with your fellow actors and stay truthful. It just requires a lot of focus and bravery.
Pastor Manders knows about the skeletons in the Alving family’s closet as well as having a few secrets of his own. How do you go about getting into character for such a complex man and how easy is it to leave him behind at the end of rehearsals and performances?
I just try not to judge Pastor Manders. I’m not religious and I don’t share his conservative views but I have to understand and see why he is the way he is. See how I could think like that myself. We are all made up of beautifully complex contradictions and are all byproducts of our environments. I try to focus on his love for Helene and what he believes he has to sacrifice for the greater good. I believe the character is often misunderstood and it’s my job to fight his corner.
Going back to the outraged reactions when Ghosts was published, do you think there’s any subject a playwright could tackle now that would shock/horrify today’s audiences?
Obviously any play that celebrates extreme right-wing views that encourage hate or harm to marginalized communities would not be great! Ultimately, censorship of art is a tricky road to navigate, and I think theatre should be able to challenge audiences and reflect the issues of its time.
There’s a lot of exciting new work being developed and staged at the moment, as well as revivals of classics. Do you think it’s important that we still stage work from previous centuries?
It can be still important if the creative team behind the work try to make it accessible to a diverse modern audience. Even if it’s set in a traditional period there are ways to invest to the world through a contemporary lens.
You’ve played leading roles in Shakespeare and now Ibsen. Is there another writer whose work you would love to tackle and/or any particular character you’d like to play?
I’ve never done an August Wilson play. Maybe Ray in Fences one day!
Why should people come to see Ghosts?
Because it’s a surprisingly shocking, intense and thought-provoking roller coaster.
Ghosts is at the Jermyn Street Theatre until Saturday 14th November 2026. Read our four star review here.
