Raising Spirits in the Capital: Canberra REP’s Blithe Spirit

Posted on 1 May, 2025

In a time of global uncertainty and rising living costs, things can feel a little heavy. Enter the perfect remedy: a little ghostly mischief, a martini or two (or three), and a medium who rides her bicycle headfirst into chaos.

It’s no coincidence Canberra REP has returned to Noël Coward’s ‘improbable farce’ in 2025 – and it’s coming to the stage this May.

Blithe Spirit was written in the midst of World War Two to lift people’s spirits and offer a charming escape from the heaviness of the world around them. Since then, it has been produced countless times around the world, including three previous productions at the Canberra REP Theatre in 1994, 2005 and 2014.

As research for his latest novel, skeptic Charles Condomine invites a self-proclaimed medium, Madame Arcati, to conduct a seance. When she accidentally conjures up the spirit of his first wife Elvira, he doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance against Elvira’s determination to wreck his current marriage. Through supernatural shenanigans, she creates merry mayhem for all!

This year’s production leans into the stylish theatricality of Coward’s world—with some Art Deco influences, elegant costumes, and a set designed to feel just as ready for cocktail hour as it is for a séance gone wrong. The team promises both glamour and chaos, with a few supernatural surprises woven in for good measure. Expect satin, séances, and maybe a flying vase or two.

In pitching the play for the 2025 REP Season, director Lachlan Houen made it clear his focus in putting this show on would be “for cast, crew and audiences alike to come out of the show with a smile on their face, chuckling the whole car ride home.

As he explains, Coward’s razor-sharp wit and delightfully absurd characters are a perfect reminder that laughter can be healing and that sometimes escapism isn’t frivolous, it’s necessary.

“Theatre doesn’t always need to solve the world’s problems,” Lachlan says.

“Sometimes it just needs to offer a couple hours of giggling, gasping, and forgetting where your phone is.”

From the earliest rehearsals, the cast’s infectious laughter and playful energy have shaped a production that promises to lift spirits—and maybe raise a few ghosts along the way.

Peter Holland, who plays Charles, says it’s an irresistible play for both the actors and the audience.

“The beauty and wit of Coward’s dialogue, the deeply flawed but always amusing characters, plus the wonderfully engaging storyline make this play irresistible. It’s been a real pleasure to rediscover the character and get to work with such a delightful and hugely talented cast and director.”

If you’re in need of a laugh, a bit of vintage glamour, or just want to see a ghost make a mess of a marriage, Blithe Spirit has you covered. A night of laughter, charm, and cheeky ghostly chaos—just the lift we all need.

Photography: Pete Stiles.