Press: 'Like Hamlet', a postmodern interpretation of a classic

Like Hamlet a postmodern, poetic interpretation of Shakespeare's classic text, Hamlet, lifts four key characters (Hamlet, Ophelia, Gertrude, and Claudius), out of the context of the play and into a liminal, cyclical space, where all their human emotions, such as lust, betrayal, love and jealousy, become magnified.

“Hamlet watches Ophelia. He sings, his hands float in front of him helplessly. Gertrude watches Hamlet.

Claudius watches Gertude.

The mirrors watch them all.”

– Like Hamlet

Like Hamlet was borne out of a desire to see what the characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet would do in other spaces, how they would operate divorced from their context, and what would happen if the characters in Hamlet were given an opportunity to speak for themselves, and speak truthfully to their feelings.

The script, by Andi Colombo, explores longing, desire, intimacy, anger and mourning, not only within the written language, but within the body itself. The characters find themselves speaking through, against, around and away from one another, exploring the dualities of light and darkness; truth and deceit; voice and the body. Finally, what remains is the question of what it means to love, to give of self, to breathe within the spaces found between two bodies, to find space within your own body.

Like Hamlet, directed by Kanya Viljoen, is presented by Anex Theatre Productions and features Kathleen Stephens, Matthew Stuurman, Mlondi Dubazane and Andi Colombo. You can see it at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective (Observatory) from 15 to 19 May 2018. Tickets range between R50 (concession) to R70 (general public). To book email anextheatre@gmail.com. More details here: https://goo.gl/6Qbc7B