Actress Lee Young-ae is making her return to the theater stage with the play 'Hedda Gabler' after 32 years.
The play 'Hedda Gabler' is a new production presented by the LG Arts Center to celebrate its 25th anniversary, following the sensational success of 'The Cherry Orchard' featuring Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo, which attracted 40,000 audiences in 2024. It will be performed at the LG Arts Center Seoul, LG SIGNATURE Hall from May 7 to June 8, with Lee Young-ae and all other actors appearing in every performance as the original cast.
Based on Henrik Ibsen's original work, 'Hedda Gabler' deals with the psychology of a woman yearning for freedom amidst social constraints and oppression, and is regarded as an important classic, often referred to as the 'female Hamlet.' In particular, the protagonist 'Hedda,' played by Lee Young-ae, is a complex character who appears elegant on the outside but harbors hidden anxiety, desire, and a destructive nature within. Lee Young-ae, who has showcased her irreplaceable presence through a variety of characters ranging from 'Dae Jang Geum,' 'Lady Vengeance,' 'Spring Days,' 'Find Me,' 'Maestra,' and the upcoming drama 'Eunsu's Good Day' in 2025, is expected to present another intense transformation on stage with this work.
The cast of 'Hedda Gabler' includes actors who have demonstrated exceptional acting skills through various stages. Kim Jeong-ho plays 'Tesman,' Hedda's husband who has no interest beyond academic achievement; Ji Hyun-jun plays 'Brack,' the judge who constantly exerts psychological pressure on Hedda; Lee Seung-joo plays 'Lovborg,' Hedda's former lover who awakens her dormant desires; Baek Ji-won plays 'Thea,' a friend who stirs Hedda's jealousy; Lee Jeong-mi plays 'Aunt Tesman,' who holds traditional values; and Jo Ji-eun plays 'Bert,' Hedda's maid.
Ibsen's 'Hedda Gabler' portrays the complex psychology of humans and unpredictable developments, which have sparked various interpretations and debates on many stages around the world. This production is adapted from Richard Eyre's version, which won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival in 2006, and is directed by Jeon In-cheol, who is known as the 'master of meticulous text analysis' and is the recipient of the 54th Dong-A Theater Award for directing. Jeon In-cheol, who has received critical acclaim for uniquely addressing contemporary issues in works such as 'Kyrie,' 'I Am a Murderer,' 'Women on Earth,' and 'Sister Mok-ran,' aims to capture the complex psychology and anxieties of modern society within Hedda's multilayered inner world, while sharply depicting the conflicts that recur within the social structure through surrounding characters.
Tickets for the play 'Hedda Gabler' will go on sale for the first time on Friday, March 7, starting at 2 PM through the LG Arts Center Seoul website and major ticketing platforms.
