Audiences have been told to “expect the unexpected” when a full-scale production of Hamlet comes to Watersmeet later this month.
Set in the shadowy medieval court of Denmark, this tale of love, revenge and political ambition follows Prince Hamlet as he confronts the ghost of his murdered father. Thrust into a spiral of doubt, betrayal, and rage, Hamlet must navigate a perilous path between justice and madness.
Asked what audiences can expect, director Richard Howell told Ricky News: “Firstly, they will experience a production that is as true to the text as possible. Our drive is to present the story without distracting elements and give the audience an understanding of the journey and the emotions therein. That is always my personal goal, to take the audience on the emotional journey with us.”
Richard explained that the main challenge of directing Hamlet is “the sheer size of the play”.
He explained: “It’s Shakespeare’s longest play! Once I had the play ‘trimmed’, the challenge was to make sure we haven’t lost any of the heart of the piece, which I am very pleased to say that this incredibly talented cast are doing a superb job of bringing to life.”
Speaking of the cast, Richard added: “The cast are an absolute delight to work with, which makes my life a whole lot easier.
“What makes them so exciting to work with is that we have very quickly built a trust within the company; they are happy to follow my lead and trust my vision and I trust them implicitly to interpret that for the audience. I can’t wait to show you all what we have created.”
Having previously worked at Watersmeet, including with a production of Macbeth, Richard said: “Watersmeet is a great space and a lovely stage to perform on. The team at the theatre are always great to work alongside.”
Hamlet is on at Watersmeet at 7pm on Tuesday, October 7. For more information and ticket details, visit watersmeet.co.uk/hamlet
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