Following sell-out seasons of Julius Caesar and King Lear, Melbourne Shakespeare Company presents Shakespeare’s ultimate tragedy Hamlet at fortyfivedownstairs this September.
Hamlet’s father is dead. Tormented by this tragedy, Hamlet seeks justice risking both his sanity and the security of the state in his mission to expose the truth. The production will be directed by multi-award-winning director Iain Sinclair (Berlin, A View from the Bridge).
Leading the cast on a perilous journey of madness, murder and lost love is Jacob Collins-Levy (Doctor Who, Prosper), portraying the titular role of Hamlet. This star of the screen will treat Melbourne audiences to a rare theatrical experience, blending his cinematic acumen with the timeless complexity of this iconic tragedy.
Joining Collins-Levy on stage are a distinguished ensemble of actors, including several familiar faces that audiences will rediscover from previous Melbourne Shakespeare Company (MSC) Studio seasons.
Following her highly acclaimed portrayal of Mark Antony in the 2023 production of Julius Caesar, Natasha Herbert (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Macbeth (an undoing)), returns to the company as Gertrude opposite multi-award winning actor and director Peter Houghton (The Heartbreak Choir) as Claudius.
The cast also features Aisha Aidara (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Death of a Salesman) as Ophelia, Laurence Boxhall (The Mousetrap, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf) as Laertes, Darren Gilshenan (Ten Pound Poms, Stateless) as Polonius, Darcy Kent (Heroes of the Fourth Turning, In The Club) as Horatio, Ben Walter (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Punk Rock) as Marcellus, Dulcie Smart (Blonde Poison, Othello) as The Player Queen, and Gareth Reeves (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as The Player King.
Emmanuelle Mattana (Trophy Boys, Mustangs FC) is Rosencrantz, Orion Carey–Clark (Head South) as Guildenstern, Simon Maiden (Death of a Salesman, Come From Away) as Barnardo & The Gravedigger, Christopher Stollery (Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead) as The Ghost, Terry Yeboah (The Lion King) as Reynaldo & Osric, and Gispa Walstab (Akaraka) as Fortinbras & Lucianus.
Melbourne Shakespeare Company is one of the biggest independent theatrical companies in Melbourne, boasting over 20 productions since its inception. It is renowned for exceptional contemporary adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays in relaxed outdoor settings, and has expanded across the last 4 years to include studio productions, new Australian works, family musicals, and more.
Director: Iain Sinclair | Featuring: Aisha Aidara, Ben Walter, Christopher Stollery, Darcy Kent, Darren Gilshenan, Dulcie Smart, Emmanuelle Mattana, Gareth Reeves, Gispa Walstab, Jacob Collins-Levy, Laurence Boxhall, Natasha Herbert, Orion Carey-Clark, Peter Houghton, Simon Maiden, Terry Yeboah | Set & Costume Designer: Tait Adams | Lighting Designer: Natalia Velasco Moreno | Sound Designer: Grace Ferguson | Fight Coordinator: Joshua Bell | Intimacy Coordinator: Jessica Stanley | Assistant Director: Marni Mount | Stage Manager: Jessica Smart | Assistant Stage Manager: Frankie Lupton | Assistant Set & Costume Designer: Leah Downey | Producer: Jennifer Sarah Dean
HAMLET
fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Season: 6 – 22 September 2024 (preview: 5 September)
Bookings: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com
For more information, visit: www.melbourneshakespeare.com for details.
Image: Jacob Collins-Levy stars as Hamlet – photo by Ben Andrews