It was the first time audience in Ho Chi Minh City had chance to enjoy " Hedda Gabler" - one of masterpiece written by famous playwright Henrik Ibsen.
The Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City was full with stage lovers in the evening of 10 & 11 January 2005 for enjoying "Hedda Gabler", performed by Vietnam Drama Theatre.
The play is of Henrik Ibsen's first works having been staged for the first time ever in Vietnam. Three night performance in Hanoi received big applause from audience and high assessment from stage professionals. The offical opening took place on 29 October 2004 at Hanoi Opera House in presence of the Director of the International Ibsen Stage Festival, Ms. Ba Clemetsen and a delegation of representatives from Norwegian theatres. The performance opened just a few days before the State Visit by the Royal King and Queen of Norway to Vietnam during 1 - 5 November 2004.
Henrik Ibsen (1828 – 1906) - Norway's famous playwright may be most famous for other plays, like "A Doll’s House", "Ghost", or "Wild Duck", but "Hedda Gabler" is another proof to his great talent, and was written when Ibsen was at the peak of his works. "Hedda Gabler" is both a drama of individual conflict and a strong satire on the hypocrisy in European contemporary society in the 19th century. Vietnam Drama Theatre, in chosing "Hedda Gabler" has taken on a great challenge.
The performance was the first result of a newly established co-operation between the Dramatic Theatre and the Royal Norwegian Embassy aiming to introducing Henrik Ibsen’s masterpieces to the Vietnamese audience, and is part of the preparations towards the centennial commemoration of Ibsen’s death in 2006.
The play was staged by a well experienced troupe of Vietnam Drama Theatre, including:
Translator : Duong Tuong
Play director : People's Artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong
Art design: Doan Chau
Art instructor: Director Nguyen Anh Dung
Cast: Meritorious Artist Lan Huong, Trung Anh, Tran Thach, Quoc Khanh, Hong Loan, Anh Dung among others.
See Ibsen's plays around the world
http://www.ibsen.net/index.db2?id=1412