European productions aren't 'infecting' our theatre " they're telling hard truths
The National's Hedda Gabler, directed by Ivo van Hove, captures all the contradictions in Ibsen's play. It's these shows that help us through dark timesAs the lights went down on Ivo van Hove's production of Hedda Gabler at the National in London, the woman in front rose to her feet and applauded in a way I've seldom seen. This was not the warm-hearted, part-zombified, part-obligatory standing ovation of Broadway. Ea…