Hamlet Prince of Denmark at the Connaught Theatre Worthing
Icarus Theatre Collective’s touring production of Hamlet Prince of Denmark promises a fresh, kinetic and accessible production which blends physical theatre with verse. What we get is an approachable, shortened version of the play that should appeal to students.
Giles Roberts gives a tortured performance as the procrastinating prince. While he is too bouncy to be a congruent royal he provides a good portrayal of a young prince who has not grown into his own skin. Horatio is excellently played by actress Dani McCallum who is controlled and empathic while Loren O’Dair’s Ophelia provides welcome moments of calm and genuine emotion in what is otherwise a frantic production.
The apparently relaxed attitude to costume was not to my taste but gave the impression of a court in disorder and decline.
For teachers, it is worth noting there are ensemble performances of soliloquies, some lines are attributed to different characters and scenes with Fortinbras have been cut but this could make for interesting discussions class.
Those hoping for a challenging exploration of Shakespeare’s tragedy will be disappointed but for students wishing to experience the texts they have studied, Max Lewendel’s direction ensures Shakespeare’s language remains the star.
The tour continues until May 18.