Hamlet

Not Available
Explore

Summoned home upon his father’s death, Hamlet discovers his mother already remarried to his father’s brother and the country in disarray. A midnight encounter with his father’s ghost sets him on the road to revenge. But how can he be sure his cause is just? Should he strike or stay his hand?

The play’s the thing. Shakespeare’s towering revenge tragedy receives a fresh, contemporary interpretation from the team that brought Richard III so thrillingly to life in 2010.

Key Photography by Earl Carter, Rehearsal Photography by Pam Kleeman

I remember first reading Hamlet at fourteen and knowing in my bones that I had struck the motherload. I couldn’t possibly know then what I know now: that in its eponymous hero we have the most complex incarnation of a human being ever put on stage; yet my theatre career might be traced back to that moment. I lit my taper from this great blaze. I have yearned to direct Hamlet ever since, but that’s not enough – every director worth his salt wants that, surely. What you need is an actor with the talent, wit, sensibility and sheer bravura to succeed as the prince, and they don’t come around too often – once or twice a generation. At last I’ve found mine. Ewen Leslie, brilliant as Richard Gloucester last season, joins Pamela Rabe as Gertrude and Garry McDonald as Polonius to deliver the must-see performance of the year.

Artistic Director Simon Phillips

Artwork for Nick Schlieper

Nick Schlieper

Leith-McPherson.jpg

Leith McPherson

Nigel Poulton

Nigel Poulton

Nigel Poulton is an award-winning movement director, fight and intimacy coordinator, SAG-AFTRA/MEAA stunt performer and actor with over 25 years of professional experience. Nigel’s choreography credits include Finnish National Ballet, The Australian Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Washington Opera Company, Opera Australia, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre, Belvoir, La Boite and Kooemba Jdarra. Nigel’s film and television work includes DeadlockNautilus, Poker FaceThor: Love and ThunderEscape from SpiderheadDing Dong You’re Gay, Occupation 2, Pirates of the Caribbean V, Deadline Gallipoli, The Water Diviner, The Bourne Legacy, Vikingdom and Winter’s Tale. Nigel is a certified Intimacy Director/Coordinator with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators and has been awarded Fight Master status with the Society of American Fight Directors. Nigel is also a certified Fight Director and past President of the Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc and an Honorary Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada.

Current as of March 2023.

Artwork for

Artwork for Jamieson Caldwell

Jamieson Caldwell

Artwork for Grant Cartwright

Grant Cartwright

Artwork for Ewen Leslie

Ewen Leslie

Artwork for

Artwork for Tony Nikolakopoulos

Tony Nikolakopoulos

Artwork for Eryn Jean Norvill

Eryn Jean Norvill

Artwork for Tim Ross

Tim Ross

Artwork for Brian Vriends

Brian Vriends

Lachlan-Woods.jpg

Lachlan Woods

Simon Phillips

Simon Phillips