Hamlet

This production foregrounds the personal journey of Hamlet, his emotional and spiritual connection to his world. We worked to pull out the essential story of Hamlet’s psychology, to dive with him into the question of what it means to confront the past in order to be able to face the future.

Provoked by the ghost of his deceased father, who demands revenge for his untimely death, Hamlet faces the challenge of restoring balance in his world. He is determined to honour his father’s spirit but is uncertain whether the ghostly figure is an authentic or deceptive force. To know how to respond to his predicament Hamlet must discover where truth lies.

The creative team grappled with the question of how to interpret the apparition. Is it a manifestation of the father-figure still present in Hamlet’s mind? Is it the guidance of the spirits of the deceased? Is Hamlet experiencing psychosis? Or is his perception heightened due to his profound grief? To us the nature of the ghostly apparition is not as important as Hamlet’s struggle to understand the purpose of his existence.

He is torn between his desire for vengeance and fear for the consequences of his actions beyond this life. As he grapples with these existential questions, his perspective broadens. Physical life and death seem almost insignificant to him, what matters is the state of the soul.

“The choreography is eloquent… focus is perfectly balanced between puppets and actors” – Arno Cornelissen, Gringotts Mail & the Critter

“The cast of actors are outstanding, exchanging dialogue and projecting the tension and angst of a Shakespearean tragedy...

Younge’s Hamlet has all of the weight of a live cast or any of the film versions without the attachment to a particular “celebrity” playing the lead role. The use of puppetry reveals more nuances of the plot and spotlights all of the characters and how they are woven together into the centuries-old story. The words and phrasing are like a high bas relief to the characters and it creates a fluid and beautifully paced production.”
– thirdcoastreviews.com

Puppetry allows for the independent embodiment of the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of a single person, while also demonstrating their interconnectivity and mutual influence. In our production, we used the qualities of puppetry to explore the forces within each character, specifically Hamlet, Ophelia, and Claudius. We accentuated and highlighted unique aspects of each character by splitting their embodiment between the puppet and the puppeteer, bringing out different facets of each individual. We found that giving Hamlet multiple voices, and using this puppet-performer dynamic, deepened our relationship with his state of mind.

In designing the puppets, I sought a material that could be evocative of the many threads that make up the fabric of our lives. The bold and open weave of hessian conjures the metaphorical threads of the various connections and influences that exist between us. The loose, flowing nature of the fabric speaks to the idea that these threads are not always under our control, but they shape and influence us in profound ways. We emerge connected to that which is behind us, beneath us, invisible to us but felt within. We manifest our entanglements as we strive to live in the present.

It is an honour to have had the opportunity to engage with Shakespeare’s profound text. The beauty, complexity and relevance of this script is astounding. It has been a great privilege to work with this unique team of artists to explore our relationship with this timeless play. Every moment of the production is a product of collaboration: co-created with the focus, playfulness, and mutual trust that binds us together as a team.

Credits

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Direction and design: Janni Younge

Assistant director: Roshina Ratman

Dramaturgy: Janni Younge and Roshina Ratnam

Lighting Design and Stage Management: Lize-Marie van Rooyen

Sound Design and original music: Daniel Eppel

Voice and performance coach: Lesley Manim

Puppet and set construction: Janni Younge, Samkelo Zihlangu, Mandiseli Maseti, Julia Wojciechowska, Marissa Steenkamp

Cast: Mongi Mthombeni, Siyamthanda

Sinani, Roshina Ratnam, Samkelo Zihlangu, Timothy Redpath, Tshiamo Moretlwe, Beviol Swartz

Creative evolution supported by Andrew Buckland

Development workshop participants: Aviwe Nose, Thukela Maka, Xolela Tsili, Bongani Titana, Zizipho Quluba, Lwando Lifefe, Vela Zozo, Naledi Mputhi, Zikhona Jacobs, Anele Pendze and Ayavuya Cekiso.