Twelve actors, over 200 countries in two years — the Globe Theatre has taken the Bard’s ‘All the world’s a stage’ seriously with its production of Hamlet .
Starting off on Shakespeare’s 450th birth anniversary in April 2014 and culminating in April 2016, the Globe Theatre has staged Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy in far-flung, exotic places.
The company has come to Bengaluru (the only performance in the country) after performing in Thimpu, Bhutan. From Bengaluru, the play is headed to Muscat. Ahead of their performance at Ranga Shankara on Sunday, the cast and crew took time out to talk about the many takeaways from such a unique experience.
Directed by Dominic Dromgoole and Bill Buckhurst, the 12-member cast play multiple roles. John Dougall, who plays Claudius, Polonius, the ghost, and a gravedigger, says it works out fine as it “gives actors a break and also you look at the play with different eyes when you approach it from another character’s point of view”.
Ladi Emeruwa, who, along with Naeem Khan, plays Hamlet, said, “The production is designed so that actors do not get too immersed in the character. It is a very energetic production.” Naeem Khan describes Hamlet (the character and the play) as being bipolar.
Beruce Khan played Horatio, Rosencrantz, Laertes and Guildenstern till he twisted his ankle in Singapore a month ago. “Now I play the captain,” he said. “My foot will be alright by the end of the week.”
Keith Bartlett, who plays Claudius/Polonius, commented, “It is not as difficult as it sounds. This way the actors have breathing space.” Playing Claudius and the ghost — the murderer and the victim — makes theatrical sense, says Bartlett. “They are brothers and don’t appear in the same scene. Same is the case with Polonius and the gravediggers as Polonius dies in Act III and the gravediggers come in the beginning of Act V.”
Performing in Bhutan
About performing in Bhutan, Dougall said, “Cable television has recently been introduced there to the detriment of performance art. So this production helped give a fillip to performing arts.” Of all the places the production has been, Dougall enjoyed Wittenberg — “That is where Hamlet studied philosophy.”
‘The play’s the thing’, as the melancholy Dane commented, and whether the conscience of the king will be caught out or not remains to be seen this evening at Ranga Shankara. Globe Theatre’s Hamlet is presented by The British Council.
The play will be staged at Ranga Shankara on at 7.30 p.m. on Monday.
