The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
LEGENDARY DIRECTOR ROBERT LEPAGE AND BALLET SUPERSTAR AND CHOREOGRAPHER GUILLAUME CÔTÉ
The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
The Dance-Theater Collaboration to Premiere a Limited Engagement at the Le Diamant May 8-11, 2025
The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark is a captivating fusion of theatre and dance featuring the collaborative work of legendary director Robert Lepage (Cirque du Soleil, Stratford Festival) and renowned dancer/choreographer Guillaume Côté (National Ballet of Canada). Following its world premiere in Toronto last April and debut at the International Shakespeare Festival in Romania in May, this innovating re-imagining of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy will perform at Le Diamant on Thursday, May 8 through 11, 2025.
This unique, wordless portrayal of Hamlet, a story of a man consumed by doubt and madness following his father’s tragic death, offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s intricate exploration of the human condition while seamlessly blending classical and contemporary choreography. Côté and Lepage’s creation draws the audiences into a world of deception where phantoms and humans mingle on a minimal set. Light, shadow, and transparency play integral roles, creating a metaphorical reinterpretation of the timeless tale.
In the beginning were the words and the words became flesh.
Hamlet is undoubtedly the longest and deepest play in the Shakespearean repertoire. But when we strip away the words, the skeleton still remains and the meaning doesn’t disappear. We note with astonishment how the work exists beyond the literary.
Dance generates breath, energy, and gestures that can reveal hidden meanings concealed by the lyricism of the text. Dance gives the characters bodies, muscles, flesh.
Our show brings together artists from different dance backgrounds. It is therefore composed of classical, contemporary and even street-dance inspired lines, which replace the language levels usually characteristic of social classes.
Through the body, the work is embodied, literally. It becomes three-dimensional, magnifying passion, violence, sensuality and is able to tell the story of this brilliant reflection on existence and the vagaries of indecision in a remarkable way.
Enjoy the show!
Robert Lepage
HAMLET
- Guillaume Côté: April 24, 25
- Kealan McLaughlin: April 26 (mat)
GERTRUDE
- Sonia Rodriguez
CLAUDIUS
- Robert Glumbek
OPHELIA
- Carleen Zouboules
LAERTES
- Lukas Malkowski
HORATIO
- Natasha Poon Woo
POLONIUS
- Michel Faigaux
ROSENCRANTZ
- Jake Poloz: April 24, 26 (mat)
- Connor Mitton: April 25
GUILDENSTERN
- Willem Sadler
