By MICHELLE HERBISON
GEELONG Botanic Gardens will experience a time-warp when theatre company Ozact brings Shakespeare’s Hamlet into the 1940s in an intimate outdoor performance.
Ozact artistic director Bruce Widdop told the Independent that setting the classic thriller in a more recent time with 1940s military and civilian costumes modernised the timeless storyline.
“The story of Hamlet was basically a state facing an invasion and in 1940 Denmark was invaded by Germany,” Widdop explained.
The casual performance would create a family-friendly picnic atmosphere within the natural environment of Geelong Botanic Gardens, moving between two locations over two hours.
“A lot of families come along with parents and kids. People can bring some food and something to drink, their own folding chairs or a cushion,” Widdop said.
The young and the young at heart would revel in fascination watching the actors move in and out of character between their performance roles and duties including selling tickets and seating the audience.
“Frequently parents comment that it’s made Shakespeare understandable for the kids,” Widdop added.
Despite mostly performing Shakespeare works for nearly two decades, this summer’s show would be Ozact’s first rendition of Hamlet, arguably The Bard’s most popular play.
“It’s the story of a young prince who is seeking love and justice and he’s driven to madness by the stifling world around him,” Widdop summarised.
“It’s full of suspense and surprise, and it has the most famous soliloquies of any Shakespeare play so there’ll be lots of phrases and words that people are familiar with.
“It’s got something for everyone – romantic moments, comedy, sword fights…”
The two-hour Geelong performance would represent a shortened version of the original four-and-a-half-hour play, reflecting a typical Sunday session in Shakespeare’s time, Widdop explained.
“In Shakespeare’s time, on Sundays they couldn’t start plays until 2pm because of church commitments. In winter in England it’s dark at 4pm so they had to cut it down.”
This summer’s 1940s theme would also fit with Ozact’s 20th anniversary plans in 2015 for a series of fort concerts around the country including at Fort Queenscliffe, Widdop added.
Hamlet will be performed on 18 and 19 January at 4pm in Geelong Botanic Gardens Tickets are available at ozact.com or by phoning 0419 330 516.
