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, abusive/coercive behaviour, murder, mental health struggles, particularly suicide, depression and psychological distress. With occasional instances of swearing, smoking 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
Video Design Will Duke
Sound Design Jethro Cooke
Dramaturgy Karthika Naïr
Creative Collaborators Sarah Calver, Raquel Meseguer Zafe & Jamie Wood

Production Manager Ed Borgnis
Stage Manager Andrea Scrimshaw
Technical Stage Manager Rachel Glover
Production LX/Relighter Daniel Harvey
LX Programmer Nadene Wheatley
Costume Supervisor Anna Josephs 

FOR LOST DOG
Executive Producer Daisy Drury
Producer Emma Evelyn
Tour Booker (Europe) Gabrielle Veyssiere
Marketing Consultant Beryl Dzambo
Press & PR Judy Lipsey

Main Image by Camilla Greenwell
R&D Photographs by Paul Blakemore


Forthcoming Performances

About the Show


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Ruination