Inaugurated on April 23, on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, The Hamlet Globe to Globe tour opened at Shakespeare’s Globe. The theatre company will be taking the epic play to every country on earth over a period of two years and raised the curtain in Dhaka yesterday in an event hosted by Dhaka theatre in collaboration with Bangladesh Shilpokola Academy & ITI centre, Bangladesh.
For those yet uninitiated to Shakespeare’s Hamlet the play tells the story of a young Danish prince who discovers that his father, the King was murdered by his uncle, who goes on to marry his mother and usurps the throne. Haunted by his father’s ghost who fills his head with thoughts of revenge and battling his inner demons, he faces the eternal struggle of justice and love; and loses many people dear to him in the process. With power and emotion struggles building up to a captivating climax, the tale itself explains its fame as one of the playwrights famous tragedies.
Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe and Director of Hamlet said: “Globe to Globe Hamlet was created with the aim of performing Hamlet to as many people as possible, in as diverse a range of places as possible. The central principle of the tour is that Shakespeare can entertain and speak to anyone, no matter where they are on earth; and that no country or people are not better off for the lively presence of Hamlet.”
The cast includes John Dougall, Ladi Emeruwa, Phoebe Fildes, Miranda Foster, Naeem Hayat, Beruce Khan, Tom Lawrence, Jennifer Leong, Rawiri Paratene, Matthew Romain, Amanda Wilkin and Keith Bartlett.
What makes this retelling different is the fresh and lively perspective to an age old tale of revenge and brooding indecision. And who can forget the anguish in Hamlet’s eyes when his beloved Ophelia is driven to madness and finally death? This is a must watch for theatre and classic literature enthusiasts for a compelling two hours and forty minutes of full bodied performances.