South Korean actress Lee Young-ae is making her long-awaited return to the theater stage after 32 years. According to LG Arts Center on Feb. 25, she will take on the lead role in “Hedda Gabler,” often referred to as the “female Hamlet,” as part of the venue’s 25th-anniversary celebration.
The play will run from May 7 to June 8 at LG Signature Hall, with Lee and the entire cast performing every show without alternates.
Originally written by Henrik Ibsen, “Hedda Gabler” explores the psychological turmoil of a woman yearning for freedom in a society that restrains her. Hedda is an elegant yet deeply complex character, concealing anxiety, desire, and a self-destructive nature beneath her poised exterior.
Joining Lee on stage, Kim Jung-ho will play her scholarly but indifferent husband, Tesman, while Ji Hyun-jun takes on the role of Judge Brack, who exerts psychological pressure on her. Lee Seung-joo plays Lövborg, an old flame who reignites Hedda’s dormant desires, while Baek Ji-won portrays Thea, a woman who fuels Hedda’s jealousy. Lee Jung-mi and Jo Eo-jin round out the cast as Tesman’s traditionally minded aunt and Hedda’s maid, Berthe.
This production will use Richard Eyre’s adaptation, which won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival in 2006.
Direction is led by Jun In-chul, a celebrated theater director known for his meticulous text analysis and acclaimed works such as “Kyrie,” “I Am a Murderer,” “Women on Earth,” and “Sister Mok-rahn.”
The play aims to capture Hedda’s multilayered psyche, reflecting the anxieties of modern life while sharply depicting recurring societal conflicts through its supporting characters.
Tickets go on sale March 7 at 2 p.m.
