Using Digital Theatre, I recently watched Hamlet by the Royal Shakespeare Company. This is originally written by William Shakespeare, and in this piece, it is directed by Simon Godwin.
After the death of Hamlet's father (the King), his mother (the Queen) gets married to Hamlet's Uncle (Claudius) - much to his disgust. Shortly after, a ghost is spotted that resembles the fallen King. As it turns out, it is the ghost of the King, and he informs Hamlet that Claudius was the one that killed him and poison was his weapon of choice. Hamlet vows that he will avenge his father's death.
Having never seen any version of Hamlet before I think that this was a very visually stimulating piece. Admittedly I did need to do some research into what was happening within the first 15 minutes or so, but after that, I could generally grasp the concept of everything that was happening.What I really liked about this piece was the majority black cast. I think the representation and cultural aspects of the piece were very important and definitely made the story more engaging.
I believe that the main themes of the play were revenge and justice, and what is interesting is that fact that this is played out in a very unusual way. Whilst expecting Hamlet to go in for the kill straight away as you would expect from other performances that feature this element. Hamlet plays the long game and deploys knowledge as an effective way of dealing with the issues at hand. And as this is one of Shakespeare's tragedies, justice comes at a price.
I think this piece stayed faithful to its original versions, as it was spoken in Shakespearean and kept all elements of the traditional story. As I've mentioned what I particularly liked about this piece was the majority black cast, and cultural aspects that were used in this piece. It isn't something that has been explored much, and I believe that it is important for this kind of representation.
The main character in the play is of course Hamlet. Hamlet is portrayed by Paapa Essiedu, and I think the depth and emotion he brought to the character was fantastic, and from small clips that I have seen of other actors playing Hamlet, I can immediately tell that he brought a real sense of individuality to a character that has been portrayed by many people many times. He is able to put so much passion and gusto behind his words, evident by the amount of saliva that leaves his mouth during the whole performance.
I think all of the cast were great actors and had great chemistry which allowed the play to be performed so fluidly. You could tell that they were very passionate about their line of work and this really helped to make the story seem convincing and believable. It's because of this, that the comedic lines really helped to elevate their performance because you could see that although this is a serious piece, they were having some fun with it. The cohesion between the cast is also evident at the end when everyone breaks out into dance once the production has finished.
The voices were well projected and they utilised the space very well. This was further emphasised by the gestures. Movements were clearly thought out and had relevance to the piece. Once again, they helped to progress the story.
I quite enjoyed this performance, I do like the modern interpretations even if the Old English language is used. It helps give the story a bit more context and shows you how it would be relevant in today's setting. And using the original dialogue allows you to have an appreciation for the language, and allows you to understand it clearer when it is put alongside familiar surroundings. The bold colours make it stand out from other productions and make it aesthetically appealing to the eye, and therefore makes it more enjoyable.
The lighting was fairly dark for this piece but I think this was poignant because it reflects the mood of the play and emphasises the fact that this a tragedy story.I think Hamlet's paint covered outfit was quite interesting. It adds more colour to the stage, and can be broken down to the fact that at the core of the outfit is a white suit. This could reflect Hamlet's naivety and his compulsion to do the right thing in regards to justice. The colourful paint on top of the suit insinuates to me the rebellious nature of his actions, as graffiti can be seen as a rebellious act. It reminds me of the aesthetic of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air which has similar rebellious themes - just not as extreme.
Overall, I think this was a really interesting and compelling take on Hamlet. The acting is brilliant and the twist that they have used here I think is really important and needs to be recognised. If you are a fan of Shakespeare, modern theatre and even Black Panther, I would definitely give it a watch.
I would also recommend this short video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEs8rK5Cqt8&t=14s
Notes made during the performance:
Modern adaptation
Horatio raised higher that the soldiers
Drums used between changing scenes
Queen Gertrude wears yellow and purple - contrasting colours and colours of royalty
Hamlet still wears black - he is still mourning whilst everyone else has moved on
Red T-shirt - expresses his love and affection
The dead King also wears yellow and purple
Ghost - rises from the stage, smoke and an echoing voice
Hamlet - white t-shirt - innocent at heart?
Uncle now wear purple and outfits that match the Queen
Hamlet's colourful suit - artistic, free, rebellious, laid back
Rebelling, anarchy? Marked with a crown and an H instead of an A
Crown made of recycled materials
Red curtain to simulate blood
Father's face tattooed on his heart
Centerpiece of the stage can rise or fall as needed