THE Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is not generally considered a barrel of laughs – “grim up north” would be the usual opinion, but when Cornwall’s inventive Miracle Theatre gets hold of a classic there is usually a comic twist or two, as Artsreach audiences will find when A Comedy of Terrors comes to Ibberton village hall on Wednesday 5th August and Sandford Orcas on Thursday 6th.

In this adaptation by company founder and creative genius Bill Scott, for Miracle’s 2026 summer open air tour, there is plenty to keep the audiences laughing at the reimagined Peer Gynt, a fable of selfishness and bad choices which was originally a five-act verse play.

When the production opened at Cornwall’s Minack Theatre, the Muddy Stilettoes reviewer described it as “a real family crowd pleaser … a great, contemporary introduction to live performance that everyone, from your kids to your granny will enjoy”.

Like its original – which is probably Ibsen’s most performed play – the Miracle version follows the fortunes of young Peer, a charming yet lazy dreamer who misinterprets Shakespeare’s advice to “thine own self be true” to mean “look after number one”.

Embracing a life of self‑interest, wild ambition and questionable decisions, Peer chases after riches and pleasure, living a life of moral failure and endless excuses. Drawn into a series of surreal encounters and moral missteps, Peer has to face the consequences of his actions – will his choices finally catch up with him?

Very loosely based on Ibsen’s original, the play is perfectly suited to Miracle Theatre’s highly visual and physical style – playful, fast‑paced and deeply human. Expect a journey through a dreamlike world of Norse mythology, filled with colourful, cranky characters, mischievous trolls and unexpected twists – a true comedy of terrors!