Perhaps the most widely interpreted play in the history of theatre, Hamlet is now enjoying even more exposure as Shakespeare's Globe, a renowned theatre troupe from London, plans to visit every single country in the world with their production by the end of 2016, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.
Organised by the British Council, Creative Industries and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand will be the 99th country since last year. This evening, Chulalongkorn University's Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts will serve as a substitute for the group's London venue.
Directed by Shakespeare's Globe artistic director Dominic Dromgoole and Bill Buckhurst, the production, featuring a multiracial troupe of 16 actors who also play instruments, aims to communicate with everyone, regardless of nationality, language and culture. Speaking to Life, director Dromgoole explained why it has to be Hamlet and how their journey has been thus far.
Can you give us a short introduction as to what this project is about?
We ran a big festival in 2012 called Globe to Globe where we invited 37 companies from all around the world to perform Shakespeare's entire canon in different languages. We had a Maori company perform Troilus And Cressida, a Georgian company perform As You Like It and a Japanese company perform Coriolanus, along with many more. These companies stayed in touch after the summer and we had lots of invitations to join them in their theatres around the world and so we were inspired to take one of our shows out. We have always toured across the UK and Europe so we had some knowledge of how the logistics would work, but this tour is much quicker than what we are used to.
Why Hamlet, of all of Shakespeare's plays?
Hamlet is universal, complicated and rich. Its themes concerning parents and children, rebellion and depression especially are themes that are relatable. However, many times you see the play you can find new meaning and hear new lines. This was important because the company would be performing the play over 200 times and we needed a play that would be fresh each time. Hamlet is also such a protean play; it can respond in very different ways to different places. In some places it has challenged, in some inspired, in some consoled. We're using a text that's a mix of the Folio text of Hamlet and the First Quarto. The First Quarto was very much a touring version, roughly half the length of the Second Quarto. That means it's got an energy, with a fast-moving narrative, and clarity. It will continue to stay fresh as each company member can double or triple up and play lots of different roles.
How has the journey been so far?
It started on April 23 last year and will visit every single country on earth by April 23 next year. The former is the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth, and the second is the quarter centenary of his death (for he is believed to have entered and exited life with uncanny timing, on the very same day of the year). We started in Europe, made our way to North, Central & South America. Then we toured Africa, starting east and then touring to the northwest. 96 countries in a year. Thailand will be the 99th country we have performed in.
How do you think audiences from various backgrounds contribute to your production?
The audience contributes a huge amount to our production and how it continues to grow. Some audiences are vocal, some reserved and then roar at the curtain call. The idea behind the tour was to reach out to as many audiences as possible with Hamlet. Seeing their reactions makes all the travelling and the tiredness worthwhile.
There are, of course, challenges due to language and cultural differences and so on. What's the difference between the touring production and performing at Globe Theatre in London?
This production of Hamlet was born at the Globe and we take the Globe spirit with us on tour.
We don't ever turn the lights down on our audience, so they can see each other, and the actors can see them, which is what it is like at the Globe as we perform under natural light.
Our production needs to stay light on its feet as all the company carries the set and costumes from place to place and they all play instruments too as we don't have extra musicians travelling with the show. So it is a smaller production in comparison to what we have on at the moment in London but it remains rich and powerful just the same.
- Hamlet is staged at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Center for Dramatic Arts today at 7.30pm. Tickets cost 1,600 baht (800 baht for students).
- For reservations, call 086-300-2081 or email CreativeIndustriesBKK@ gmail.com
