Henrik Ibsen (1828 - 1926) may be Norwegian history’s most influential writer. Why is he still considered so important, over a century after his pieces were written?
Many of his sharp observations and candid contemporary criticisms are as relevant today, as they were over century ago. In many aspects he was far ahead of his time, raising topics such as gender equality and generational sins. He was also a great internationalist and lived much of his life abroad, one of the reasons for his continued popularity across the globe.
Hedda Gabler is a play that he published in 1890. Hedda Gabler, daughter of an aristocratic general, has just returned to her villa in Kristiania (now Oslo) from a 6 months long honey moon. Her husband is Jørgen Tesman, an aspiring, young, but not brilliant academic who has combined research with their honeymoon. The appearance of Tesman's academic rival, Ejlert Løvborg, throws their lives into disarray.
Hedda has been given many interpretasions over the years; From feminist heroine, to supressed lesbian or manipulative villain. The femme fatale's fierce and ambigous character is one of the reasons that she will never cease to amaze her audiences.
The play is hosted 2 to 28 May at 19:30 during weekdays. During weekends, holidays as well as 9 and 23 May it is hosted at 15:00. Myeongdong Theatre is closed at tuesdays.
There will also be lectures before several of the plays:
4 May at 19:00 – 19:15 : Meet Isen and Munk by Ms. Moon So-young (Journalist of International Herald Tribune newspaper)
11 May at 19:00 – 19:15 : Norway, Ibsen and Hedda Gabler by Ms. Kim Mi-hye (Professor of Hanyang University)
18 May at 19:00 – 19:15 : Hedda Gaber meets Korea today by Ms. Park Jeong-hee (Producer of Hedda Gabler play)
May at 19:30 at the theater by Ms. Vigdis Istad (Professor of University of Oslo and Ibsen Symposium)