Hedda Gabler

By Henrik Ibsen

A new version by Liisa Repo-Martell

Directed by Moya O’Connell

with Original Score by Emily Haines

Assistant Director: Daniel Williston
Stage Manager: Tamara Protic
Assistant Stage Manager: Alysse Szatkowski
Set and Costume Designer: Joshua Quinlan
Lighting Designer: Kaitlin Hickey
Sound Designer: Michael Wanless

Starring Diana Bentley with Nancy Beatty, Andrew Chown, Shawn Doyle, Leah Doz, Qasim Khan and Fiona Reid

Hedda Gabler  is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The world premiere was staged on 31 January 1891 at the Residenztheatre in Munich. Ibsen himself was in attendance, although he remained back-stage. The play has been canonized as a masterpiece within the genres of literary realism. Hedda Gabler dramatizes the experiences of the title character, Hedda, the daughter of a general, who is trapped in a marriage and a house that she does not want. Overall, the title character for Hedda Gabler is considered one of the great dramatic roles in theater. The year following its publication, the play received negative feedback and reviews. Hedda Gabler has been described as a female variation of Hamlet.

“There are moments when you realize an artistic endeavor and a human soul are in perfect sync. When Diana and I first spoke about directing and the theatre I came away from our time together thinking “Jesus she’s smart and charming and brutally ruthlessly honest. I need to spend more time in her orbit”. And then we began speaking about Hedda Gabler. And it became clear to me that Diana MUST play this part. Her  magnetism, intelligence, experience, hungry heart, and ability to cut through bullshit  and yet navigate it with a knowing grace was electrifying. Diana is electrifying. To be in her orbit is to feel a little bit more alive. She sets a room on fire.” – Moya O’Connell