‘A work of sheer theatrical beauty.’
‘Kate Mulvany is astonishingly good.’
‘A funny, fierce, and intellectually stimulating comedy-drama.’
‘An entertaining, intellectually stimulating pleasure.’
ABOUT THE SHOW
Paris, 1899: legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt is world-famous … and broke. To turn her fortunes around, she sets her sights on the only role worthy of the greatest actress of all time, horrifying traditionalists and delighting gossips along the way.
In her directorial debut as Melbourne Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Anne-Louise Sarks leads Hollywood star of stage and screen Kate Mulvany (The Twelve, Hunters) in a cast of ten in this large-scale, whip-smart play inspired by real events.
A brilliant comedy about a woman ahead of her time, Bernhardt/Hamlet is a timeless exploration of gender and equality.
Accessibility
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Hearing Assistance
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Audio Described
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Tactile Tour
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Open Captioning
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Auslan Interpreted
Performance Type | Performance Date(s) |
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Audio Described
by Vision Australia |
Saturday 18 March at 2pm Tuesday 21 March at 6.30pm |
Tactile Tour
by Vision Australia |
Saturday 18 March, 2pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm) |
Open Captioning
via screen |
Saturday 1 April, 2pm |
Auslan Interpreted
by Auslan Stage Left |
Tuesday 4 April at 6.30pm |
Cast & Creatives
Marco Chiappi
Constant Coquelin
Tahlee Fereday
Lysette
John Leary
Louis
William McKenna
Maurice
Kate Mulvany
Sarah Bernhardt
Dushan Philips
Francois / Worker
Sahil Saluja
Raoul
Tim Walter
Alphonse Mucha
Charles Wu
Edmond Rostand
Izabella Yena
Rosamond
Theresa Rebeck
Writer
Anne-Louise Sarks
Director
Marg Horwell
Set & Costume Designer
Amelia Lever-Davidson
Lighting Designer
Joe Paradise Lui
Composer & Sound Designer
Nigel Poulton
Movement & Fight Director
Geraldine Cook-Dafner
Voice & Text Coach
Amy Hume
Voice & Text Coach
Jacob Battista
Associate Set Designer
Sophie Woodward
Costume Associate
Tasnim Hossain
Assistant Director
Amy Cater
Intimacy Coordinator
Learn more about Bernhardt/Hamlet
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News
Melbourne Theatre Company wins nine 2024 Green Room Awards
My Sister Jill, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Jacky, Is God Is, Bloom, and Escaped Alone and What If If Only win at the Green Room Awards.
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Video
Script notes with Kate Mulvany
Kate Mulvany discusses her script notes for the opening scene of Bernhardt/Hamlet by Theresa Rebeck.
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Video
Bringing Bernhardt/Hamlet to the stage
Watch Director Anne-Louise Sarks and the cast of Bernhardt/Hamlet reflect on the process of realising this large-scale comedy inspired by Sarah Bernhardt’s trailblazing story.
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Galleries
Bernhardt/Hamlet onstage
See more of Bernhardt/Hamlet onstage in this gallery of photos by Pia Johnson.
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Education
Merging theatre & life
Our Education team talked with award-winning designer Marg Horwell during tech rehearsals for Bernhardt/Hamlet to provide students with insight into her set and costume designs.
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Interview
Sarah Bernhardt's troupe
We asked our brilliant Bernhardt/Hamlet cast to share their insights into finding their characters and why Sarah Bernhardt’s story is still so pertinent for audiences today.
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Video
The Sarah Bernhardt quiz
How well do the Bernhardt/Hamlet cast know the most famous actress of all time?
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Q&A
Directing Bernhardt/Hamlet
Director Anne-Louise Sarks discusses her approach to bringing Bernhardt/Hamlet to life onstage.
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Programme
Bernhardt/Hamlet programme
Anne-Louise Sarks chose to direct Bernhardt/Hamlet because it is sharp, witty, fast and light. But there's also another reason why this play resonates with her so deeply. Find out and learn more about this incredible production in our programme.
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Feature
Defying convention
Award-winning author and educator Victoria Duckett has devoted 30 years to studying the great Sarah Bernhardt. Read on to discover why and how histories that include an eccentric maverick like Bernhardt prompt endless questions.