Hedda Gabler: are we meant to mourn or despise her? A stunning NUTS production

Hedda Gabler is a power-hungry artist who is starving. Married to someone who bores her and surrounded by people she far surpasses intellectually and she is desperate to find beauty in a monotonous life.

What is particularly captivating about this play is the compelling performances across the board, with strong portrayals of complex characters from the whole ensemble. A brilliant costume department aids this, representing how the characters contrast with one another. Kind and loving Thea (played by Emma Hughes) wears a soft, frilled white and pink dress with beautiful flowing hair: full of life and effortlessly fitting into her societal role as a woman. This differs from Hedda’s cold grey silk chemise and jewellery, highlighting her desire for wealth alongside her clinical and deliberate performance of femininity.

The ominous atmosphere of the show is littered with needed humour, which adds levels to an otherwise dark play. Tesman (played by Addison Arthur) is the vessel for many of these moments, with his mediocrity and hilarity opposing Hedda’s sociopathic tendencies throughout.

There’s certainly a Batemanesque quality to Hedda (played by Ruby Chick) enabled through bright white lighting and an apartment covered in dust sheets. She yearns for power and prowls around the apartment, watching her prey like a shark smelling blood; Hedda is an opportunist, set alight with a desire to find materials for her final piece.

The original play sees Hedda playing the piano intermittently, whilst director Tia Thompson’s adaptation instead has her painting. This switch embodies Hedda’s yearning for beauty and meaning, adding to the symbolism behind her final choice. Encapsulating Hedda’s complexity is no easy feat, but as her power slips from her grasp we feel sympathy for an otherwise cruel and calculating character.

Another notable choice was for the characters to enter and leave the stage into the audience, making watchers feels exposed (Hedda firing shots at us certainly adds to this vulnerability). As the confines of the stage are crossed, we are reminded that we are watching a performance within a performance of people trying and failing to play their role in society. Ruby Chick is playing Hedda struggling to play convention.

A massive congratulations to the cast and crew of Hedda Gabler for a brilliant performance: It was beautiful.