‘Hayward’ Is A Gripping Modern Family Tragedy

Blending the spirit of Shakespearean tragedy with the messiness of modern family life, Hayward explores the ghosts we carry, the histories we inherit, and the complicated love that can hold a family together even as it threatens to pull them apart.

When I was first introduced to classic literature in elementary school, I didn’t care for it. It wasn’t well explained, and I was much more interested in MTV than books. But in high school, my eyes began to open, and by college, it was everything I could do to perform in our theater’s Shakespeare troupe. The writing was so rich and clever, with so much innuendo and meaning beneath the surface. It was all sitting right there, waiting to be appreciated. Now, I love a good classic.

In the new production by The Gift Theatre, “Hayward reimagines Hamlet and Electra through the eyes of Luna, who reveals to her family — on the day of their father’s funeral — that his ghost has come to see her. Beneath the haunting, this is a love story: a daughter’s love for her father, and the complicated, unresolved feelings he left behind. The story follows a family shaped by the trauma passed down by a father who served in the Navy during the Gulf War. Across grief, they reach for each other, trying, imperfectly, to come back together.”

Written by Netta Walker and directed by AmBer Montgomery, Hayward is a layered play that gradually reveals more of itself as the story unfolds. Beginning at the funeral, it opens up to reveal a devastated family managing the problems of the present alongside the ghosts of their past.

From the first moments the actors enter the stage, all dressed in white, there is a palpable energy in the room. No words have been spoken yet, but something is already simmering beneath the surface. You want to know who these people are, because you can sense that there is much more to their story than what you see.

That tension continues throughout the show, heightened by unsettling sounds that build anxiety and keep you on edge. The set shifts between the church where the funeral is held and the family’s living room, with a kitchen and front door in the background. It feels lived-in and comfortable, a space where these characters have spent years together and where the familiar surroundings hold memories of happier times, as well as the weight of everything that has gone unsaid.

Led by Ireon Roach as the haunted and deeply pained Luna, the entire ensemble is fearlessly committed to these characters. The actors capture the sarcasm and banter of siblings who know exactly how to get under one another’s skin, jumping on each other verbally and physically, shouting, laughing, teasing, and fighting. The relationships feel effortless, with the kind of shorthand that comes from years of shared history. Beneath the bickering are deep roots, deep love, unspoken secrets, and expectations that no one quite knows how to escape. The cast doesn’t simply portray a family; they make you feel as though you’re witnessing one.

As the story progresses, it touches on sensitive subjects including incarceration, drug use, mental health, and sexuality. At the center is a family trying to create an image while its individual members struggle in different ways. The matriarch wants to see everything through that carefully controlled lens, while a pastor takes every opportunity to press on personal insecurities in the name of the church. The result is a story that feels both familiar and biting.

Hayward is a spectacular production, grounded in honesty, with humor woven into the difficult moments. The script has layers, and the actors bring it to life in such a natural way that you stop feeling like you’re watching a performance. Instead, it feels like being granted a glimpse into a family’s private world through the cracks in the walls. With its Shakespearean roots and contemporary setting, Hayward shows how the questions at the heart of classic tragedy – about family, loyalty, grief, and the past – remain very much alive today.

Hayward runs for approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. It is recommended for ages 13 and up.

The Gift Theatre: Hayward Chicago Review – Hayward is playing at The 1700 Theater at Steppenwolf through 11/22/26. Tickets can be purchased on the Steppenwolf Theatre website. The 1700 Theater is located at 1700 North Halsted in Chicago.