The Curtainbox Theater Company | Hedda Gabler
I was commissioned by The Curtainbox Theater Company to design the primary promotional campaign and theatrical poster for their production of Henrik Ibsen’s seminal drama, Hedda Gabler. The production ran in November 2010.
The Creative Execution
Hedda Gabler is a work of deep psychological complexity, and the core challenge was to create an image that encapsulated the title character’s existential crisis and eventual self-destruction in a single, powerful frame.
Concept & Composition: My creative strategy was to synthesize the play’s final act into one visually cohesive and dramatically-lit moment. The composition is structured around four powerful symbols, which I executed and designed from scratch:
The Subject: I directed and photographed the title character in profile, dressed in a high-collared, period-appropriate gown. This pose creates a sense of detachment, suggesting she is already separated from the reality surrounding her.
The Background: The set design—a critical element in the narrative—is represented by a dark, intricately-patterned crimson and black flock wallpaper, implying the stifling and claustrophobic environment that traps her.
The Weapon: To represent the ultimate instrument of her demise, I directed a shot of her own hand with a vintage flintlock pistol pointed directly at her head from behind. This element injects immediate and inescapable tension.
The Legacy: A second key plot point is visualized by the book in her hands. To show the destructive nature of her actions, I composited realistic fire over the book, making it appear as though the manuscript itself is being consumed by flame.
The Result: The finished piece is a cohesive, high-contrast, and emotionally-charged image that leverages professional photography and detailed digital compositing. I completed 100% of the creation, from initial art direction and photography to the final typography and layout design, producing a powerful and evocative poster that perfectly positioned this intense dramatic production.