Hedda Gabler

Hedda Gabler was produced by Visjoner Teater and in the first run performed 34 times in Sæterhytten at Dronningberget in Bygdøy. The little cabin was overgrown and nearing demolition when Visjoner Teater in 2008 started the work to use it as a location for Hedda Gabler.

The artistic concept behind the Ibsen in closeups project is to perform productions in unknown venues, seemingly authentical. In the case of Hedda Gabler, a house that could have been the house of Hedda and George Tesman was chosen.

Hedda Gabler was the second part of the Ibsen in closeups project. The first production using the concept was A Doll's House, opening in 2006 in Wesselsgate 15, a building moved to the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum). Nora welcomed every single guest when the audience arrived to see the production.

The production Hedda Gabler was performed in the cabin called Sæterhytten, a part of the government s gift to the King and Queen of Norway when they both turned 70 years. The cabin was renovated by Statsbygg during a period of two years. It formally became part of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum) and was opened by the Queen May 2 2011, only ten days prior to the opening of Hedda Gabler.

Artistically Visjoner Teater experienced Sæterhytten to be a challenging, complicated venue. The performance took place indoors and outdoors in all sorts of weather. Props, stage design and technical solutions, plus the style, had to be adjusted for the location and different weather.

The text of Henrik Ibsen was adapted and cut by Juni Dahr and Tonje Gotschalksen, otherwise little was changed and the language mostly kept the way it was.

Hedda Gabler in Sæterhytten was swiftly sold out and several extra performances were announced.

Hedda Gabler by Visjoner Teater was supported by Arts Council Norway, The Freedom of Expression Foundation Fritt Ord and the municipality of Oslo, The Fund for Performing Artists, The Norwegian Actors' Equity Association's fund for freelancers, and the foundation of C. Ludens Ringnes.

The production was revived during The Ibsen Festival 2014, and performed again in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

SOURCES:

The webpage of Visjoner Teater, www.dahr.no, 12.08.2011

The National Theatre, program for The Ibsen Festival 2014, http://www.nationaltheatret.no/Her+er+programmet!.b7C_wRnG5W.ips

Andreas Wiese, 15.06.2011, Dagbladet [Oslo]:
"A brave action. This is a pure and clear Hedda Gabler in appropriate stage design: Drawn between the closed room and the freedom of nature."

Jon Harald Thorsås, 13.06.2011, Kulturspeilet:
"This must be the closest we can get to the perfect Hedda Gabler. The text is well adapted and the duration of the performance is perfect. The simple stage design elements and the stylish costumes make May even more beautiful than it was."

IdaLou Larsen, 23.05.2011, Klassekampen og idalou.no [Oslo]:
"A brilliant parade of performing arts. The short distance to the audience demands that the actors do not 'act theatrically', but convince us with a natural, credible style of acting. The cast manages excellently."

Writer unknown, August 29 2012, Verdens Gang [Oslo]:
"The story of Hedda Gabler is a thriller with fundamental questions about the choices she makes, why she shoots herself, how she is captured in her own choices. Sæterhytten makes up the perfect outer framework. A fine, old place with great glass windows. Light and sound from the nature spill in. If the sun shines or the rain bursts down, the elements take part in the play, Juni Dahr underlines."

• Almada International Theatre Festivals pris 2016 - Æresprisen