HEDDA GABLER
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Fri 18 Oct-Sat 2 Nov
Since its world premiere in 1891, Henrik Ibsenās Hedda Gabler has been a much loved and revered play. This updated version of the classic, by Brian Friel, originally premiered in Dublin in 2008 and has since been performed around Ireland and the UK; now, itās coming to Cardiff for the latest revival of this Norwegian classic.
The play follows the titular character of Hedda Gabler, a recently married woman who finds herself bored with her academic husband. Her escape from this reality come in the form of dangerous games she plays with the lives of her immediate family and friends. Heledd Gwynn, playing Hedda, is well known fomr TV roles including 35 Diwrnod, Ordinary Lies and Holby City; Marc Antolin, cast as Heddaās husband George Tesman, is a Welsh actor whose musical theatre roles include Little Shop Of Horrors, Romantics Anonymous, Matilda and Singinā In The Rain among many other well-loved stage productions. Confirmed to play Judge Brack is double BAFTA Cymru nominee Richard Mylan, known for roles such as Oliver Morris in the sitcom Coupling, Chris in Grownups and Joe Andrews in BBC drama Belonging as well as TV roles in Where The Heart Is, The Bill and Waterloo Road.
Brian Friel, a playwright best known for plays such as Dancing At Lughnasa and Translations, has been known to add a few original ideas of his own to the play ā as well as taking some minimal, yet significant, liberties with Ibsenās text. His reading adds a greater comedic dimension to an otherwise sombre play, the upshot being that even the melancholy ending is preceded by laughter from the audience. Yet Friel uses the comedy well to create tension between the gags, increasing the audienceās growing sense of looming disaster for both Hedda and the people those around her. Director Chelsea Walker, having recently taken the reins for A Streetcar Named Desire on its UK tour, is set for the challenge of giving life to Frielās version of the play.
words Rose Buck
Tickets: Ā£16-Ā£26. Info: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermantheatre.co.uk