Now in repertoire with Twelfth Night, Bard On The Beach welcomes Hamlet to the BMO Mainstage. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is one of Shakespeare’s most well known and quotable tragedies, with its Freudian story of fratricide, incest and madness.
Adapted and directed by Stephen Drover, Hamlet stars Nadeem Phillip Umar Khitab as the mad prince who returns to Denmark to mourn the death of his father the late King only to find his mother Queen Gertrude, played by Jennifer Clement, having just married Claudius, (Munish Sharma) his Uncle and the new King. Set in an indeterminate recent past/present the production has the gritty feel of a modern European/PBS drama thanks to Barbara Clayden’s Costume, Pam Johnson’s Set and Gerald King’s Lighting Designs.
“This adaptation aims to dive deep into the psychological landscape of Hamlet, to capture the character’s dreams, anxieties, and struggles with stark realism,” says Drover. “The production retains the essence of the source plot while proposing to infuse it with contemporary relevance and emotional depth. By intertwining modern sensibilities and degrees of heightened realism, we intend to create a thought-provoking and immersive journey into the timeless themes of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.”
Prince Hamlet’s torment over his mother’s remarriage is cemented when, supported by friend Horatio (Matthew Ip Shaw) , his father’s ghost spills the tragic and criminal details surrounding his demise. This sets in motion a series of tragic events that effects everyone in the court. Faithful Polonius, played by Bard stalwart Andrew Wheeler, Kate Besworth plays his daughter Ophelia who suffers her own descent to madness over the course of 90 minute production.
The madness theme permeates the entire production, as its wild swings of tempo and emotion from leaping into the wedding reception Charleston, to modern techno beats, folk-singing troubadours, a Spice Girl humming grave digger keep the audience in a state of flux. Being one of the Bard’s most well known plays, its storyline and themes lending plot points to a host of works over the last century, the contemporary elements break with traditional tellings as well as break any preconceived expectations the audience has for such a well worn text.
Despite its possibly uneven delivery, Hamlet provides a evening of live theatre that will surely stimulate conversation, highlighting a reason people keep coming back to the works of the Bard 400 years after its initial writing.
Hamlet plays at Bard On The Beach BMO Mainstage until September 20, 2024 visit bardonthebeach.org for showtimes and tickets.