"To be or not to be. That is the question." Whether or not you’re familiar with Hamlet – Shakespeare’s longest play, and perhaps his most famous – chances are you know this particular line. It’s a testament to the ongoing impact and influence of this story – one of a family torn apart by murder and betrayal – and why it continues to be performed on stages right across the globe.
Returning to Sydney Opera House on March 4 for a four-week run, Bell Shakespeare’s Hamlet is set inside the glamorous court of Denmark in the 1960s, and depicts a young man struggling with the death of his father, his mother’s hasty remarriage to his uncle, and the vision of his father’s ghost looming in his mind’s eye. It’s a tale of revenge, passion and deception set against a classically timeless backdrop, where the human desire for retribution quickly becomes a burden.
Harriet Gordon-Anderson stars in the title role, and heartbreakingly portrays a man who is experiencing grief in its most complex and profound state. The supporting cast includes Lucy Bell as Gertrude, Ray Chong Nee as Claudius, Rose Riley as Ophelia and Jacob Warner as Horatio.
Directed by Peter Evans, Hamlet also features the talents of designer Anna Tregloan, lighting designer Benjamin Cisterne, composer and sound designer Max Lyandvert, video designer Laura Turner and voice coach Jess Chambers.
This is a Hamlet for our time, and it offers a dazzling new take on a much-loved masterpiece. For more information and to secure your ticket, head to the website.