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★★★
On Tuesday night I headed to the Marlowe Theatre to see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of ‘Hamlet’ which is currently touring the UK and directed by Rupert Goold. This is not my first RSC production, having watched ‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Measure for Measure’ in recent years, but I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to watch Shakespeare’s longest tragedy. Whilst I commend Ralph Davis’s performance and the way that the creative team created turmoil on stage, there was something about this production that for me didn’t feel quite as accessible to first comers to Shakespeare. It led me to believe that the complexity of the material alongside the pivots from the original text don’t quite work as a standalone piece of theatre and it requires prior in-depth knowledge.
Initial thoughts
It goes without saying this is a bold production, with the material being transported to a boat instead of the usual castle setting. The action has also been reframed to appear across one night, with digital clocks highlighting the timeframe of events. Even though I was aware of the loose outline of the plot, both through popular culture and TV adaptations, this is where I believe I struggled as a newcomer to Hamlet. The story is already reasonably complex, but when the narrative is portrayed within a shorter period of time, every detail becomes even more integral to the overall comprehension. I didn’t find this production particularly easy to follow, especially with the slow pacing of the nearly 90-minute first act. That being said, I can’t talk about comprehension without noting how the RSC and the theatre have highlighted all of the characters and their connection to Hamlet in the programme cast list. This is incredibly helpful and whilst it doesn’t help establish their identities on stage, it does go a long way to supporting the viewing experience.
Visual design
Once you realise that this version of Hamlet is set on a boat, you can begin to appreciate the creativity in the set and lighting design. There is a raked stage that resembles a ship deck and the events of the story take place on the seas. The way that the creative team has highlighted Hamlet and the Royal Family’s inner turmoil through the visual design and colossal waves is particularly impressive. Es Devlin’s set comes alive in rage, with the moving deck and Akhila Krishnan’s wave-like video design adding to the tension on stage. Hamlet’s spiralling and distress is also reflected in the overall ambiance on stage, with Jack Knowles’ dark and uncomfortable lighting creating a really uneasy atmosphere on board the boat. I really believed in the darkness of the piece and this contributed to making Ralph Davis’ Hamlet even more enigmatic.
Chilling and courageous
There is lots to like about this production, particularly its intensity and drama, and the second act is where the material and characters really come into their own. That being said, I believe that it is a production for longtime fans of the play rather than first timers and the changes make it somewhat difficult to follow. If you’re a fan of both Shakespeare and daring interpretations of classic work, ‘Hamlet’ is based at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday 25th April. Tickets can be purchased via the theatre’s website.
*My ticket for ‘Hamlet’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
Quite disappointed with the production since I can’t really identify with a bald grown up Hamlet (instead of a young student). The transfer from castle to ship doesn’t really ‘add’ anything relevant or dramatic or modern to the plot. Comparatively, I vividly remember a modernise version of Romeo & Juliet at the Globe Theatre (London) where Romeo was talking on his mobile during exile & a thief on a bicycle snatched it from him, therefore he could not receive the message that Juliet was not really dead.
An even older production at the Aldwych Theatre by Peter Brooks of Midsummer Nights Dream showed all the major characters sitting on swings & chatting which was very memorable!
I am afraid the meal at the Green Room was more enjoyable than the play.