The Return of a Breathtaking Masterpiece
Back on the NTCK Stage After 13 Years

★★★★★
Winner of Best Actress, 5th Korea Theater Awards
Winner of Best Actress, 49th Dong-A Theater Awards

A Long-Awaited Revival Sparked by Popular Demand!
NTCK Sets a New Standard for the Timeless Classic

Lee Hye-young, a legendary force on stage and the eternal Hedda Gabler, returns with a visceral, instinctive presence.

At the helm is NTCK’s Artistic Director, Park Jung-hee, whose meticulous yet experimental direction has established her as a singular voice in Korean theater.

The National Theater Company of Korea’s Hedda Gabler—long remembered as a must-see production—returns to the stage at Myeongdong Theater, fueled by enduring audience demand. Chosen as the “Audience Pick,” this long-awaited revival comes 13 years after its celebrated debut, and the reunion of actress Lee Hye-young and director Park Jung-hee alone makes it one of the most anticipated productions of early 2025. This May, Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece—penned by the “father of modern drama”—will once again meet audiences, not as a mere echo of its 2012 triumph, but as a reimagined work, deepened with new insight for today’s world, drawing us slowly and irresistibly into Hedda’s universe.

A life reduced to ashes ignites once more on the edge of desire.

Often dubbed a “female Hamlet,” Hedda is a complex and provocative figure. Trapped in the web of others’ desires that objectify her, she drifts through life in a haze of ennui—until her passions are rekindled once more. What awaits at the end of her journey, which begins as Hedda Tesman and ends as Hedda Gabler? Torn between the will to live and the lure of death, she invites us to witness the unraveling.

“Listen to me. How about we make the end beautiful?”

SYNOPSIS

Hedda Gabler, the daughter of a wealthy general, has just returned from a six-month honeymoon with her husband, the scholarly but uninspiring George Tesman. As they settle into their new home, Hedda finds herself increasingly bored and disillusioned by the monotony of married life. Then, one day, her former lover, Eilert Lövborg, reappears—now on the verge of academic acclaim with a groundbreaking new manuscript. His return sends Hedda into a spiral of jealousy and inner turmoil.

Written by Henrik Ibsen   
Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright and poet, widely regarded as one of the most influential dramatists of the 19th century and often hailed as the father of modern drama. His works left an indelible mark on modern theater and literature, boldly confronting the moral and social issues of his time. Through his deep exploration of human psychology and daring critiques of societal and ethical issues, Ibsen challenged the conventions of his era and helped lay the foundation for realist drama. His plays continue to be staged around the world today — a lasting testament to their powerful impact on modern theater. 

Major Works
Peer Gynt, A Doll’s House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, The Lady from the Sea, The Master Builder, When We Dead Awaken

Directed by Park Jung-hee
Park Jung-hee is the Artistic Director and Company Head of the National Theater Company of Korea. She is recognized for her lyrical approach to theater and her evocative use of physical symbolism on stage. In 2001, she founded the theater company Punggyeong and gained critical attention for her bold, experimental style in The Maids. Since then, Park has established herself as a singular voice in contemporary Korean theater—a female director known for her daring experimentation and strong artistic vision. Combining meticulous attention to detail with a fearless exploration of form, she continues to create theatrical experiences that are distinctly her own.

Major Works
Oil, Tribes, Jean Genet, The Idiot, Face Stealer, The Visit, The Crucible, Lee Yeong-nyeo, Hedda Gabler, The Dance of Death II, It’s a Flower, The Gaze, The Habit of Art, Rhinoceros in Love, The Maids

Awards
2014 Allbit Award, Korean Association of Women in Theater
2011 Kim Sang-yeol Theater Award
2008 Best Director, Seoul Theater Festival (Railroad)
2002 Top 3 Productions of the Year, International Association of Theatre Critics – Korea (The Maids)