Norway's National Theatre performs Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, a powerful and emotionally potent portrayal of a woman's alienation from and suffocation by the bourgeois society of which she has become a part.
Eisenhower Theater - Feb. 26 - 27, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Ticket Price: $49.00 - $80.00
Duration: 1hr 30mins
In Norwegian with English supertitles.
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Written by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Peer Perez Øian
Norway's National Theatre has enjoyed a long association with legendary playwright Henrik Ibsen, presenting most of the late Norwegian's boundary-pushing body of work. Here it performs Hedda Gabler. The play is a powerful and emotionally potent portrayal of a woman's alienation from and suffocation by the bourgeois society that she has become a part. Hedda Gabler features one of the strongest female characters to appear upon the stage. The work offers the theater one of its most scintillating and exciting dramatic works.
“A brave and charming twist on Henrik Ibsen’s classic.” Dagsavisen
“Never have I laughed and enjoyed a meeting with Hedda Gabler more.” VG
Explore the Arts: On February 26, join a free post-performance discussion with a moderator and members of the company.
About Hedda Gabler:
Her demise begins when she can no longer drown out the nagging voice that says: maybe it could have been different?
Debut director Peer Perez Øian maintains that the financial and individual freedom in our society is a paradox. We expect ourselves to succeed in so many areas, not just financially and emotionally, but also as creative individuals. Øian has chosen to focus his presentation of Hedda Gabler on a fundamental dilemma that many will identify with: Should I stake everything on the realization of my deepest dreams and innermost ambitions or rather play it safe and seek security and material comfort? He sets the play in a contemporary setting that reflects the room it is performed in. The contemporary Hedda and Tesman are neaveu riche, and Hedda is no longer restricted by being a woman or a certain class. Hedda and Tesman are not two-dimensional, but are representing the average person in a superficial society where ruthless individualism and the need to succeed come before anything else.
The director and cast:
Peer Perez Øian is a Norwegian-American director living in Oslo. He holds a Bachelors degree in Performing Arts from Emerson College, Boston (2003) and a Masters degree in Directing from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (2010). His staging of Hedda Gabler premiered at The National Theatre in Oslo during the International Ibsen Festival in 2010 and has since then been revived twice.
Perez Øian´s work ranges from developing new plays in collaboration with contemporary playwrights, to interpreting and adapting classical plays and texts for the stage.
In 2011 Perez Øian was awarded the Norwegian theatre award Heddaprisen in the category best director for his critically acclaimed production of Ferdinand Bruckner´s Pains of Youth at Det Norske Teatret, Oslo.
Mattis Herman Nyquist (Jørgen Tesman) trained at the KHiO and first appeared on stage at Det Norske Teatret. At the National Theatre, he has had key roles in Galileo, Hedda Gabler, Jeanne d’Arc and Bankerått. He won Heddarpisen in 2012 for his role in Sangen om den røde rubin.
Andrea K. Bræin Hovig (Hedda Tesman) was widely praised for her interpretation of Hedda in this performance. She trained at Statens Teaterhøgskole and has had key roles at most major theatres in Norway, appearing in, among others, Figaros bryllup, Fruen fra havet, Flaggermusen, Fluenes Herre, Romeo og Julie and Chicago. She has appeared in several films and has written children’s books. She has won Anders Jahres kulturpris for unge kunstnere and the Audio Book Award.
Tone Beate Mostraum (Thea Elvstad) trained at Statens Teaterhøgskole. She has appeared in several high-profile films for cinema and TV, including Oslo 31. August, Kompani Orheim and Erobreren. At the National Theatre, she has had key roles in Fanny og Alexander, Fluenes Herre and Abigail’s Party.
Christian Greger Strøm (Assessor Brack) trained at the Arts Educational Drama Schools in London. He has worked with The Cherub Company (London), Oslo Nye Teater, Riksteatret, Haugesund Teater, Teatret Vårt I Molde, Det Norske Teatret and the National Theatre of Norway. He has appeared in Folk og røvere I Kardemomme by, Reisen til julestjernen, Under åpen himmel, En folkefiende and Dynastiet. He has been nominated for Heddaprisen
Jørgen Langhelle (Ejlert Løvborg) trained at Statens Teaterhøgskole. He has had key roles in films, on TV and at a number of theatres. He has appeared in Brødrene Karamasov, Mio min mio, Terje Vigen, Sporvogn til begjær, Elling, Varg Veum and Jeg er Dina. He has been nominated for the Amanda award for best male actor in Norwegian films twice.
The National Theatre, Norway:
Steeped in tradition and pushing the boundaries, The National Theatre is Norway’s largest theatre. Steeped in tradition and pushing the boundaries, it has the express aim of being recognised as one of the leading theatres in Europe. The Theatre is ideally located right in the centre of the Norwegian capital of Oslo – between the Royal Palace and the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) – in a beautiful building dating back to the turn of the previous century.
Since it opened its doors in 1899 the National Theatre has become home to the dramatic arts in Norway and the use of the Norwegian language on stage. The desire to establish a theatre for Norwegian dramatists and stage artists constituted a natural part of the country’s national development and its separation from Sweden around the beginning of the last century, a process than culminated in the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905. The statue of Henrik Ibsen still takes pride of place in front of the Theatre’s main entrance, as the National Theatre has been key in staging Ibsen in Norway.
The National Theatre’s ensemble includes the country’s leading actors, and only the best national and international producers are invited to realise the Theatre’s artistic programme. The repertoire of the National Theatre is characterised by high quality and a balanced mix of classical and contemporary drama presented in topical and groundbreaking productions. The changing focus devoted to traditional and contemporary performances is also reflected in the annual theatre festivals that are organised at the Theatre: the International Ibsen Festival and the ICON Program which are held biennially in alternate years.
