To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the LG Arts Center, the first reading of the play 'Hedda Gabler' was revealed, which will be performed from May 7 to June 8 at the LG Arts Center Seoul, LG SIGNATURE Hall.
The play 'Hedda Gabler' is a highly anticipated work marking the return of actress Lee Young-ae to the stage after 32 years, known for her irreplaceable presence through various characters in works such as 'Dae Jang Geum', 'Lady Vengeance', and 'Spring Days'.
The first reading of the play 'Hedda Gabler' featured cast members including Lee Young-ae, Kim Jung-ho, Ji Hyun-jun, Lee Seung-joo, Baek Ji-won, Lee Jung-mi, Jo Ji-eun, as well as LG Arts Center Director Lee Hyun-jung, director Jeon In-cheol, set designer Park Sang-bong, sound designer Kai-up, costume designer Kim Hwan, and Kim Mi-hye, a renowned Ibsen expert and honorary professor at Hanyang University, who received the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
Lee Hyun-jung, the general producer, stated, "We are presenting this work to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the LG Arts Center." She added, "I believe the best way to celebrate the 25th anniversary with the audience is to showcase a work that firmly demonstrates the direction the LG Arts Center will take in the future and to communicate with them," explaining the reason for the production.
Actress Lee Young-ae, who plays the lead role, expressed her thoughts at the first reading, saying, "'Hedda Gabler' feels like a work that has come to me like destiny. I had a lot of concerns about returning to the stage after 32 years, but I felt that if not now, then when?" She continued, "I have done many good works in dramas and films, but as an actress, I have always felt a thirst. Now in my 50s, I think the character 'Hedda' is one through which I can express various emotions as a woman and an actress. I feel a sense of fear, but I only think about working hard."
In this production, Lee Young-ae, who plays the protagonist 'Hedda', is expected to portray the character, who appears elegant on the outside but harbors hidden anxiety, desire, and a destructive nature, in a powerful and three-dimensional manner.
Additionally, the play 'Hedda Gabler' will feature talented actors who have showcased exceptional acting skills on various stages.
Kim Jung-ho will play 'Tesman', Hedda's husband who has no interest beyond academic achievement; Ji Hyun-jun will portray 'Brack', the judge who constantly exerts psychological pressure on Hedda; Lee Seung-joo will take on the role of 'Lovborg', Hedda's former lover who awakens her dormant desires; Baek Ji-won will play 'Thea', a friend who stimulates Hedda's jealousy; Lee Jung-mi will portray 'Tesman's' aunt, who holds traditional values; and Jo Ji-eun will play Hedda's maid 'Bert', promising a perfect ensemble.
Henrik Ibsen's original 'Hedda Gabler' deals with the psychology of a woman yearning for freedom amidst social constraints and oppression. It has sparked various interpretations and debates on many stages around the world due to its exploration of complex human psychology and unpredictable developments. This production will use a modern adaptation by Richard Eyre, who won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival (2006), to resonate more with contemporary audiences.
Director Jeon In-cheol remarked, "It is a special experience to work on the LG Arts Center stage, which has hosted numerous masterpieces." He added, "'Hedda Gabler' was written in 1890, but the more I read it, the more I feel it is very modern. It reveals the anxieties and desires of modern people very well, and I aim to create a work that contemporary audiences in 2025 can fully relate to."
Director Jeon In-cheol, who is known as the 'master of meticulous text analysis' and the recipient of the 54th Dong-A Theater Award for directing, plans to capture the complex psychology and anxieties of our lives in modern society through Hedda's multifaceted inner world, sharply depicting the conflicts that recur within the social structure through surrounding characters.
The play 'Hedda Gabler', featuring actress Lee Young-ae, will be available from May 7 to June 8 at the LG Arts Center Seoul, LG SIGNATURE Hall.
