A thoughtful, if traditional, adaptation of the classic tragedy. Rating
Good
What does it mean to hold a man’s fate in your hands? In Hedda Gabler, power is not loud or triumphant, but quiet, insidious, and devastatingly precise. In this latest staging of Hedda Gabler, director and company, Placeholder Collective, promise a bold reimagining, positioning the production as a fresh take on Henrik Ibsen’s canonical text. Yet, while there are moments of invention and visual intrigue, the overall result feels more rooted in tradition.
Recently married Hedda (Marie Thorseth), finds past (Anton Bibby as Eilert Loveborg), present (Sebastian Newton-Hurley as George Tessman), and would-be (Jay Heffernan as Judge Brack) lovers united in her home. Feeling lost in a world where age is creeping up on her, Hedda decides to seize this moment to influence someone else’s life. All the ensemble delivers solid performances, resolute in the character’s deep personal histories and the way their idiosyncrasies combine into tragedy.
There are flashes of genuinely inspired detail. The contrast between Hedda and Thea is particularly striking, most notably in the deliberate styling of Miss Elvested’s (Charlotte Cotton) “obnoxious hair”: a bleached, modern blonde that sharply opposes Hedda’s more natural, controlled appearance. It’s a clever visual shorthand, subtly reinforcing the tension between the two women: one striving for composure and societal control, the other embodying a kind of disruptive vulnerability. These choices hint at the kind of contemporary lens the production initially promises, suggesting a deeper interrogation of identity and presentation.
Unfortunately, this sense of modernity doesn’t fully extend to the wider production. Despite being billed as a modern adaptation, the staging leans heavily into the familiar. Period costumes and historical references anchor the play firmly in its original setting, creating a disconnect between expectation and execution. For audiences anticipating a modern reinterpretation, this may not be the Hedda for you.
Performance-wise, the cast demonstrates a clear command of the language and emotional beats of the play, but the delivery occasionally falters in its rhythm. While the text is evidently well-rehearsed, there is a tendency for actors to trip over one another’s lines, preventing scenes from reaching their full dramatic potential. With the adaptation being so faithful to the original text, this occasionally lessens the built-in tension.
That said, the production still captures the enduring power of Ibsen’s work. Hedda remains a compelling, enigmatic figure, and the themes of control, repression, and societal expectation resonate just as strongly today as they did in the 19th century. This staging offers a thoughtful, if traditional, representation of a complex and iconic play.
Written by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Charlotte Cotton
Produced by Placeholder Collective
Hedda Gabler has completed its run at Golden Goose Theatre
