“Hamlet” is a queer show inspired by the classic Shakespearean tragedy, reimagined in a different historical and social context with new values and perspectives on life.
Here, Rosencrantz is played by a woman, Guildenstern is a feminine young man, the actors perform vogue dance on stage, and the deaths of characters provoke ironic reflections. What would Shakespeare think of such changes? We hope Mr. William would have approved.
As a contemporary theater, we can’t afford to stage a Shakespeare tragedy exactly as it was written. Our mission when working with classical texts is to discover shared problems with historical characters while highlighting aspects that feel outdated—or even absurd—today.
Back then, people lived in castles, fought for thrones, and poisoned their enemies with wine. Men aspired to knightly ideals—bravery, loyalty, honesty—while women embodied beauty, kindness, grace, and intellect. Now we live in an age where men no longer have to prove their masculinity, and women are no longer bound to be merely the guardians of the hearth.
People change genders, love beyond the boundaries of gender identity, come out, and express themselves through fashion, dance, and hobbies.
In our performance, we still ponder the timeless question, “To be or not to be,” while also rethinking gender stereotypes, masculinity, femininity, modes of self-expression, and moral values. We deeply respect Shakespeare’s dramaturgy but dared to look at “Hamlet” through the lens of today’s world, while preserving the core storyline.
We’ve merged parallel universes, and here’s the playful mischief we came up with: • Hamlet isn’t as heroic as you might think—sometimes he’s just plain infantile. • Jabots, cuffs, and daggers go surprisingly well with vogue dance. • Even in death, you can still put on a stand-up show. • The characters of the tragedy argue not only with each other but also with the audience. • Women have the right to change the course of events (thank you, 21st century!). • Some characters change their gender identity — and guess what? It doesn’t affect Shakespeare’s story at all.
Premiere: June 25–26, 2021Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes