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
With thanks to Jaclyn Fulton, Claire Verlet, Camilla Greenwell, Paul Blakemore, Nelson Autefault, Nora Houguenade, Ian Penny at Bristol Old Vic Scenic Workshop (Scenic Construction); Tom Crosley-Thorne (Scenic Paint), Alan Roberts (Structural Engineering), Andrew Patrick at Macfarlane Manufacturing (Corrugated Board Consultation), Warrington Fire, Element (Fire Retardancy Consultation); Richard Chappell at Freight 44 (Production Transport), Rachael Canning (Mask Design), Jagprops (Mask Maker); Suzanne Hogg (Costume Maker), Nicola Killeen Texties (Dyeing and Breaking Down), Fionnuala O’Conor, Mike and Caroline Howes and the technicians, crew and staff of the Théâtre des Abbesses (Paris)
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
Production Photographs by Nora Houguenade
