The show’s programme has a couple of photos of Merle Oberon (1911-1979). Oberon was born in Bombay to a White father and a Burgher mother, though for most of her life, she asserted she was born in Tasmania, but her birth records had been destroyed in a fire. Such were the prejudices within the British film industry – and many other sectors of society besides – that her publicist felt it necessary to concoct a fake story to mask Oberon’s lower-class background and mixed-race identity. This play, then, explores such prejudices. When Shona (Rita Fatania), maid to film star Hedda Gabler (Pearl Chanda), refers to Hedda as ‘child’, when the latter is clearly an adult, what’s that about? Since when did servants, however (ahem) experienced, call their employer ‘child’? Unless, of course, she has good reason to do so…
A gun makes an appearance in the first act, and is used, although it’s in the second that its presence in the play, which isn’t even set in the United States, but in Chelsea, becomes properly comprehendible, and frankly, more than a tad predictable. Let’s just say they weren’t exactly hunting deer down the Fulham Road. Given the post-war setting, Simon Kenny’s set felt rather too contemporary – I had thought (although I’m open to correction on this point) minimalism had only really taken hold in the 1960s. In any case, a house in Chelsea, especially one described by film producer John Brack (Milo Twomey) as one that cost a significant amount, would have had more furnishings. “I did advise you to get something less extravagant,” Brack tells Hedda’s latest husband, George Tesman (Joe Bannister). Except in this case, ‘less extravagant’ would probably have meant sleeping on the floor.
Pearl Chanda in the title role had some facial expressions that ‘said’ just as much as the dialogue. Her Hedda, however, had declared herself ‘retired’ from the film industry, ostensibly because she didn’t like the amount of control film studios had over her. Whatever her actual reasons (which do become evident in the play), it wasn’t clear to me what the reputational risk was to Hedda’s (ex) career if her real heritage and background became known to all and sundry: she had already withdrawn from public life. No film studio would want anything to do with her, apparently. But, racism notwithstanding, she’d stopped doing films anyway.
This, then, ultimately led to a dramatic conclusion that didn’t quite feel entirely earned, unless the play was suggesting that Hedda was, deep down, less self-obsessed than early scenes portrayed her to be. She wasn’t alone in being treated poorly by the film industry: things didn’t exactly end well for writer and director Leonard Webb (Jake Mann) either. Completing the set of onstage characters are Alice Smith (Bebe Cave), an actress who had previously worked with Hedda and had her reasons for calling in on her with some urgency, and Julia Tesman (Caroline Harker), George’s aunt, whose relative warmth and straightforwardness was refreshing in amongst the other characters where, between them, almost nothing was as it seemed. Drama about drama, proceedings thankfully zipped along at a good pace. But it was difficult to feel much sympathy for anyone, apart from the aunt whose sister had died, given the sheer amount of smoke and mirrors going on.
Review by Chris Omaweng
“It was our love of India which drew us closer together. And of course, films…”
London, 1948. The war is over, India is newly independent, and Hedda Gabler has retired: early, elegantly, and with secrets. Once a Hollywood star, now the wife of rising British film director George Tesman, Hedda lives in Chelsea, hiding behind drawn curtains. But the past is beginning to stir.
Her husband is asking questions. An old colleague has written a screenplay that cuts too close to the truth. And there’s a powerful producer in town: and he never takes no for an answer.
Inspired by the story of Anglo-Indian screen legend Merle Oberon, Hedda is a bold new version of Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama about blackmail, secrecy and power.
CAST
Joe Bannister – George Tesman
Bebe Cave – Alice Smith
Pearl Chanda – Hedda Gabler
Rina Fatania – Shona
Caroline Harker – Aunt Julia
Jake Mann – Leonard
Milo Twomey – John Brack
CREATIVE TEAM
Tanika Gupta – Writer
Hettie Macdonald – Director
Simon Kenny – Set Designer
Sheena Napier – Costume Designer
Ben Ormerod – Lighting Designer
Pouya Ehsaei – Sound Designer and Composer
Helena Palmer CDG – Casting Director
RC Annie – Fight Director
Tara Jamora Oppen – Assistant Director
HEDDA
Orange Tree Theatre
18 October to 22 November 2025
