Review: HEDDA (AFTER IBSEN), Soho Theatre on Demand Film Festival - Online

Photo credit: Sarah Hickson

Told from the point of view of Hedda, this new reimagining of Ibsen’s classic, written and directed by Jen Hayes, is a one-person tale of feeling trapped with a person they do not wish to be with. 

Returning from honeymoon, Hedda makes it clear that marriage was the only option after years of youthful abandonment have come to an end.  The appearance of a former lover, the finding of a rival’s manuscript, jealousy and suicide, it’s a tragic tale full of lies and very bad decisions.

David Hoyle stars in the piece and is a heartfelt Hedda, telling their story in the matter-of-fact way of someone who is locked in their own tragic world.  It is easy to follow and the emotions are clear and as an audience easy to empathise with.

The interposing songs, composed by Tom Parkinson, are generally a pleasant addition, but whilst the lyrics successfully move the story along, they do sometimes seem a little out of place with the style of the retelling and the conversation’s between Hedda and Ibsen could appear more, as these are an added aspect which work well.

It is both dark and surreal and does successfully play out without limiting characters to binary traditions, so does show Hedda as a human being and the focus is on the person rather than anything else.

Overall, this is an enjoyable creative piece, far from the expectations of Ibsen’s original, and would definitely be more appealing to a young adult audience to be able to understand a classic piece.

Interestingly retold with a fresh appeal for audiences, it is definitely worth a watch.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Hedda (After Ibsen) is available to stream online until 13 March here.