IBSEN plays look set to mark the beginning and the end of a 44-year directing career at Worcester's Swan Theatre for a county playwright.

Brian J Burton, who has written more than 50 plays, made his directorial debut at the Swan in 1959 with a production of his own adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm.

Now, the 81-year-old says his adaptation of A Doll's House could well be his swansong.

"I'll always be writing, but I think it might be time to make way for younger directors," he said.

In a remarkable career, Burton has been artistic director at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham and his plays have toured Europe and North America, often premiering at the Swan.

His adaptation of the Drunkard opened in Worcester before spending 18 months in an off-Broadway theatre that had a professional run in Toronto, earlier this year.

A performance of the Drunkard by the Droitwich- based Norbury Theatre Company was also the first event ever to be recorded by BBC Pebble Mill, although it was never broadcast.

His other adaptations have included Pride and Prejudice and an outdoor production of a Tale of Two Cities which sold out at Warwick Castle.

But his concentration is currently given over to A Doll's House, which he has adapted and directed for resident amateurs, the Swan Theatre Company.

He has been working on the play for three years and describes it as a labour of love.

"It has always been a great favourite of mine," said Burton, who lives near Droitwich.

"George Bernard Shaw is a disciple of Ibsen's and described him as the "father of modern theatre" and I think that's perfectly true.

"A Doll's House is, more or less, the first realism play. Everything before it was melodrama or farce. This isn't about kings and queens or a war it's about ordinary people.

"I haven't made any drastic changes to the story, I would not presume to do so.

"But it has been edited for length. I've made it a two-act play because there are very few three act plays around these days.

"I've also tried to make the language more modern so it flows better."

Language is something Burton has paid exceptionally close detail to.

Despite knowing little Norwegian, he has taken on the various translations armed with an English translation dictionary. In one example, in most translations one of Nora's final lines to her husband Torvald is "I was always amused here".

But Burton says this has been mistranslated and should read "I was always content here", which makes a significant change to the climatic scene.

Burton also says he has taken a fairly drastic approach to the set, and although he doesn't want to ruin the surprise, he says it will be functional.

This year has already seen a number of high-profile Ibsen productions including Brand by the Royal Shakespeare Company starring Ralph Fiennes and The Master Building starring Patrick Stewart.

"I definitely think there has been a resurgence in Ibsen," said Burton.

"I'm just amazed that no one has done A Doll's House yet, which is arguably his most famous play."

Malvern actress Celinda Myatt plays Nora, the woman restless within the confines of her marriage.

Torvald, Nora's husband, is played by Simon Atkins, head of drama at the King's School, who is, co-incidentally, currently teaching a different version of the play.

John Horton, another veteran of the Swan, plays Krogstad, the man who knows a dark secret Nora doesn't want to be revealed.

Frank Welbourne, who has been with the company since 1969, plays Dr Rank and actress and sculptor Elaine Innes plays Mrs Linde.

Minor parts are taken by Pauline Beale and Audrey Holt.

A Doll's House runs at the Swan Theatre from Thursday, October 16, to Sunday, October 25, at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8, concessions £7, from Huntingdon Arts box office on 01905 611427.