Shakespeare’s iconic play, Hamlet, has seen various innovative interpretations in Chicago in 2024. From Eddie Izzard’s one-person show to Red Theater’s stripped-down version, the city has been buzzing with new takes on the classic tale. Now, French Canadian director Robert Lepage brings his unique vision to the stage with The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, a wordless interpretation created in collaboration with choreographer Guillaume Côté.
Lepage, with over 40 years of experience in theater, film, opera, and circus, reveals that the idea for this production stemmed from his previous work with Côté on a project based on the biography of film animator Norman McLaren. The success of their collaboration led to the exploration of Shakespeare’s Hamlet without the use of text, a challenge that Lepage found irresistible.
The pandemic shutdown provided the perfect opportunity for Lepage and Côté to work with dancers from Côté Danse, incorporating elements of classical, contemporary, and street dance to convey the story’s dynamics. By focusing on the physicality of the characters and the hierarchy of dance, Lepage and Côté created a visually stunning and emotionally resonant production.
Through dance, Lepage aims to explore Hamlet’s internal conflict between action and inaction, a central theme of the play. He believes that the uptick in new interpretations of Hamlet may reflect broader societal concerns, particularly in the current political climate. The essence of Shakespeare’s story remains intact in this wordless adaptation, with Lepage emphasizing that everything the audience needs to understand the narrative is already present in the original text.
As The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark makes its U.S. debut at the Harris Theater, audiences can expect a fresh and thought-provoking reimagining of a classic tale. Lepage’s innovative approach to storytelling through dance promises to captivate theatergoers and offer new insights into the timeless themes of Shakespeare’s work.
