HEDDA GABLER. By Henrik Ibsen. Director and translator: Christiaan Olwagen. With Rolanda Marais, Albert Pretorius, Martelize Kolver, Ashley de Lange, Ludwig Binge and Stian Bam. Set design: Rocco Poole. Costumes: Mariechen Vosloo. Lighting design: Wolf Britz. Music: Charl-Johan Lingenfleder. Choreography: Natalie Fisher. At Baxter Flipside, Cape Town.
KAREN RUTTER reviews
I am really not sure where to start with this. It seems the adjectives have all been taken. “Explosive.” “Visually Magnificent.” “Spectacular.” And they are all true. Christiaan Olwagen’s version of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler is a fiery, scorched-earth tour de force that sears your eyeballs with bold, unapologetic brilliance. Everything – from the inspired casting, the intense soundtrack, the set design – pulls you in, shakes you around, and leaves you breathless by the end. It’s easy to see why this production has picked up so many awards – I mean, seriously. It’s a no-brainer.
Olwagen’s Hedda is an angry woman who feels trapped, and that makes her very, very dangerous. She also doesn’t give a fuck, which means she is even more of a threat. She knows what she wants, and she knows she will probably not get it. But it won’t stop her trying – and destroying everybody else in the process.
Masterclass in psychological nuance
It all starts in the bougie new apartment that Hedda (Rolanda Marais) has talked her hapless new husband Jurg (Albert Pretorius) into buying. She is already bored with him, so when a previous flame arrives on the scene (Lovborg, played by Ludwig Binge) she is ready to make mischief – not only with him, but also his new partner Ms. Elvested (Ashley de Lange) and Jurg’s lawyer friend Brack (Stian Bam). Even Jurg’s Aunt Jules (Martelize Kolver) is a potential plaything.
This production of Hedda Gabler is a masterclass in psychological nuance, offering rare empathy for a character as complex and corrosive as Hedda herself. As she spirals into destruction – dragging others with her- you don’t excuse her actions, but you do begin to understand them. The direction resists the easy trap of misogyny, instead delivering a portrayal that is piercing, intelligent, and deeply human. The set is a living, breathing part of the story- its shifting presence mirroring Hedda’s inner unraveling. With a uniformly brilliant cast and an unflinching gaze, this is one of the finest theatrical productions I’ve seen this year.
And to think they did it all in Afrikaans a week before I saw the English version. This cast, this director, this team – unbelievable. Thank you.
What: Hedda Gabler
Where and when: The Baxter in English from 12 to 24 May 2025
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
