Michael Hurst as Hamlet;
Ray Trickitt as Claudius

Actor/director Michael Hurst returned to his first love--theatre, and in particular Shakespeare--to stage this unique 21st Century version of the timeless classic, Hamlet.  A passionate and energetic interpreter of Shakespeare, he brought his vision to the stage in the way of an old-fashioned theatrical impresario--taking on the roles of producer, director and star.

The themes and feelings in Hamlet, even though it was written at the beginning of the 17th century, are just as relevant today. Hamlet's search for the truth in a corrupt world resonates with our modern dilemmas in a world on the brink. 

"I focussed on the psychology. What really is going on with Hamlet and Ophelia? And what about Hamlet and his mother? It's about relationships. What's truth? What's honesty? What is madness and what isn't? And who are we to say what is sane and what isn't?  I set it in a world that has so much money, so much luxury, available to it, where there's that feeling that everything has been done, where everybody's looking for something else. And that makes someone like Hamlet really ask the questions."

Although Hamlet is a powerful tragedy, it is also full of comedy. "There's lots of dark humour and Hamlet tips the wink to the audience the whole time." 

But this production of Shakespeare's enigmatic masterpiece was not for the faint-hearted. Murder, revenge, the supernatural, lust, sexuality, violence, madness and mind-games formed the background for high-octane performances in which every moment was balanced on a knife-edge and the stakes were life itself.

"David Aston's Polonius--reptilian and greasy yet still pompous and tedious--is a standout."  Peter Calder, New Zealand Herald, 26 May 2003

The production gratefully acknowledges the Breakeven Revenue Underwriting Facility provided by The Creative Arts Trust.