The Last Hamlet

What if this was the last Hamlet – literally – after which Shakespeare's play would never be performed again? This is the bold challenge taken up by Ben Duke and his company, Lost Dog. Hamlet bears a heavy responsibility for the ills of our time: he is depressed, violent and guilty of choosing procrastination over action. Having learned his drama has been cancelled, he is taking to the stage one last time.  He’s worked up some new material and he's hoping to persuade us to let him stay. But in Lost Dog's hands, nothing is sacred. Shakespeare's most iconic character becomes the starting point for a darkly comic exploration of existence, love, revenge, and the stories we can't seem to escape - no matter how hard we try.

Age guidance: 13+
Content warnings: This production contains references, descriptions and depictions of violence (including but not limited to gun violence and violence with other weaponry), murder, abusive and coercive behaviour, mental health struggles, particularly suicide, depression and psychological distress. There are discussions of abortion and pregnancy loss. With occasional instances of swearing, smoking, nudity and sexual references.
Approx. running time: 90 minutes, no interval


CO-COMMISSIONERS
Théâtre de la Ville, Paris
Sadler’s Wells, London
Festival d’Avignon, Avignon
RomaEuropa Festival, Rome


SUPPORTED BY
Arts Council England, The Linbury Trust, Pavillon Noir (Aix-en-Provence), Warwick Arts Centre, Dance East, South East Dance

Conceived and Directed by Ben Duke 
Performed by Miguel Altunaga, Ben Duke & Hannah Shepherd 
Set & Costume Design Soutra Gilmour 
Lighting Design Jackie Shemesh 
Sound Design Jethro Cooke 
Video Design Will Duke 
Dramaturgy Karthika Naïr 
Creative Consultant Raquel Meseguer Zafe 
Creative Collaborators Sarah Calver, Luigi Nardone, Jamie Wood  

Production Management Ed Borgnis 
Stage Manager Andrea Scrimshaw 
Technical Stage Manager Rachel Glover 
Costume Supervisor Anna Josephs 
Production Lighting Daniel Harvey 
Lighting Programmer Nadene Wheatley 

Producing Team Daisy Drury, Emma Evelyn, Gabrielle Veyssiere 

FOR LOST DOG 
Executive Producer Daisy Drury 
Producer Emma Evelyn 
Tour Booker (Europe) Gabrielle Veyssiere 
Marketing Beryl Dzambo 
Press & PR (UK) Judy Lipsey 
Representation in North America Elsie Management  
Representation in China Performance Infinity

Main Image by Camilla Greenwell
R&D Photographs by Paul Blakemore
Rehearsal Photographs by Nelson Autefault


Forthcoming Performances

About the Show


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Ruination