Liv Ferracchiati's Metatheatrical Take on Ibsen's Hedda Gabler

Liv Ferracchiati (Todi, 1985) presents 'Hedda. Gabler. come una pistola carica' at the Teatro Studio, a metatheatrical exploration of staging classic works and actor identity. The production interweaves scenes from Ibsen's play—translated anew by Andrea Meregalli—with reflections on naturalistic theater conventions. Ferracchiati appears as Ejlert Løvborg, framing the show as 'autofiction,' while actors shift between their own identities, their characters, and Ibsen himself, whose biographical anecdotes are incorporated. The set by Giuseppe Stellato, made entirely of cardboard, is assembled and disassembled in view of the audience. Costume changes and the revelation of the gunshot as a stagehand's trick further expose theatrical artifice. The play also incorporates elements from Ibsen's 'When We Dead Awaken' through the character Irene (Giulia Mazzarino), a double for Hedda (Petra Valentini). Ferracchiati problematizes the classic text, distinguishing historical conventions from universal themes like existential boredom. The performance questions whether theater can provide beauty and meaning, ultimately suggesting a fragile balance between art and reality. The cast includes Francesco Alberici, Renata Palminiello, Alice Spisa, and Antonio Zavatteri.