ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on one of the most crucial collaborations to building the world of the play on stage: the director's relationship with his or her designers. As with any collaboration, the qualities of the director/designer relationship will vary depending upon the individuals involved. The chapter looks at the expanded version and uses the core action statement in any of the following settings: to propose a play to a theatre or producer; to start the design process; to start the rehearsal process; and to generate excitement about the production in publicity and interviews. It shows Hedda as a play about the constructive and destructive sides of creativity. The chapter reviews the action as a chess game between two worthy foes: Hedda, the protagonist, and Brack, the antagonist. They play their game primarily by inciting the actions of other characters, including Tesman, Løvborg, Thea, and Madamoiselle Diana.
