Tanika Gupta's adaptation of Ibsen's classic, Hedda, takes a bold new direction by transposing the story to the world of filmmakers and movie stars in post-war London. This reimagining illuminates the racism that pervaded middle-class England at the time, where casual slurs were often met with polite nods rather than outrage.
Hedda, played by Pearl Chanda, is a complex figure - a white-passing woman who hides her Anglo-Indian heritage from the world. In an industry still grappling with segregation and institutionalized racism, Hedda's discovery of her true identity threatens to upend her carefully constructed life.
The play's cast of characters is multidimensional, with the lead roles of George (Joe Bannister) and Lenny (Jake Mann) being standout performances. The chemistry between Chanda and Mann is undeniable, particularly in their scenes together as former lovers. Their complicated past is a highlight of the production, bringing tension to an otherwise flat plot.
The set design by Simon Kenny effectively captures the opulence of 1948 London, but the pacing of the play struggles to build momentum. The dialogue often feels forced, with characters spewing forth their intentions and fears as readily as ordering coffee at a café. This can make it difficult for the audience to become fully invested in the emotional battles between the characters.
Despite these issues, Gupta's adaptation is a solid reimagining of Ibsen's classic. It sheds new light on the racism that was rampant during this period in London's film industry and provides a thought-provoking exploration of identity and power dynamics.
Hedda will be performed at the Orange Tree theatre until November 22nd, offering audiences the chance to experience this bold and timely adaptation for themselves.
Hedda, played by Pearl Chanda, is a complex figure - a white-passing woman who hides her Anglo-Indian heritage from the world. In an industry still grappling with segregation and institutionalized racism, Hedda's discovery of her true identity threatens to upend her carefully constructed life.
The play's cast of characters is multidimensional, with the lead roles of George (Joe Bannister) and Lenny (Jake Mann) being standout performances. The chemistry between Chanda and Mann is undeniable, particularly in their scenes together as former lovers. Their complicated past is a highlight of the production, bringing tension to an otherwise flat plot.
The set design by Simon Kenny effectively captures the opulence of 1948 London, but the pacing of the play struggles to build momentum. The dialogue often feels forced, with characters spewing forth their intentions and fears as readily as ordering coffee at a café. This can make it difficult for the audience to become fully invested in the emotional battles between the characters.
Despite these issues, Gupta's adaptation is a solid reimagining of Ibsen's classic. It sheds new light on the racism that was rampant during this period in London's film industry and provides a thought-provoking exploration of identity and power dynamics.
Hedda will be performed at the Orange Tree theatre until November 22nd, offering audiences the chance to experience this bold and timely adaptation for themselves.
! The fact that Tanika Gupta is shining a light on the racism in post-war London's film industry is giving me LIFE 
. It's crazy how much privilege and power come with being a "white-passing" woman in that era, and Hedda's story is like, the ultimate cautionary tale about identity and oppression 
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. And can we talk about the set design? It was like stepping into a time capsule of opulence and excess 
. However, I felt like the pacing could be tighter, and some of the dialogue did feel a bit forced 
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I'm loving how Tanika Gupta is bringing new life to Hedda! Transposing the story to the film industry in post-war London adds a fresh twist that's both thought-provoking and unsettling. The way it highlights the racism that was so present back then, but often just swept under the rug... it's crazy to think about how far we've come (or not?) since then 
. I'm intrigued by Pearl Chanda's performance as Hedda - I hope she gets some well-deserved recognition for it! 
The chemistry between her and Jake Mann is undeniable, and their complicated past adds such depth to the story... but yeah, maybe work on the pacing a bit? 
Still, can't wait to see this production live at the Orange Tree theatre! 
and i gotta say its got some real thought-provoking moments about racism in the film industry back in the day 
I loved Pearl Chanda's performance as Hedda, she brought so much depth to the character - that scene where she finally uncovers her true identity still gives me chills 
. The chemistry between Chanda and Mann was palpable, but I felt like some of the supporting characters were kinda one-dimensional 
. Set design-wise, it looked stunning, though! 
Would've loved to see more tension in the pacing, though - felt a bit meh at times... still, overall I'm super impressed with how they tackled racism and identity in this adaptation 
It's so relevant to our current social issues with diversity and representation in the industry 
. Tanika Gupta has done an amazing job at shedding light on the racism that was hiding beneath the surface back then 
. The cast is absolutely fire, especially Pearl Chanda as Hedda - she brings such depth to the character 
But this play is saying we need to confront those issues head-on, just like we're doing with police reform and systemic racism 
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. But at the same time, I love Pearl Chanda as Hedda, she brings such depth to the character 
. And the chemistry between her and Jake Mann is undeniable 
. The set design is also super opulent and captures the essence of post-war London perfectly 
. Still, I wish they'd speed up the plot a bit so it can keep my attention 
. Overall its a solid reimagining but could've used some more polish 
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. The casting is fire, Pearl Chanda as Hedda is absolute perfection 
. The set design is also super on point, transporting us to opulent 1948 London 
. Overall, it sounds like a solid show, even if it needs a bit more work to get that emotional connection going 
... I don't know if it's working 100% but I can see why Tanika Gupta did it, there are some heavy issues to tackle, especially with the white-passing thing and how it affects people's lives, feels really relatable nowadays. The cast is great too, especially Chanda and Mann, their chemistry is electric 
... still, I think it's worth checking out, especially since it's only on for a few more weeks 
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