Independent Company Takes on Bell Shakespeare - Drastic New Reworking of HAMLET

Independent theatre collective Montague Basement is pitting itself against one of Australia's most prominent theatre companies with a drastically streamlined and deconstructed independent production of Hamlet.

This new staging of Hamlet takes direct aim at the theatrical tradition of the work, and the obsession theatremakers have shown for the piece over centuries. Montague Basement's production will run in the middle of Bell Shakespeare's Sydney season, providing an opportunity for comparisons between the two works. With the cast and crew made up of universityaged students, the production engages with Hamlet as he is written - a young man, on break from university, grieving for his father - and as it is imparted to each generation - a revered and mystified culture hallmark. "Hamlet, for all its supposedly modern sensibilities, is a play stuck in the past," says director Saro Lusty-Cavallari. "The ghosts of old medieval chivalry, revenge heroes of past plays and waning catholicism seem to always make the modern machiavellian world of courtly politics even more cowardly and stifling by comparison."

Montague Basement's production depicts a Hamlet haunted in more ways than one, with the weight of the theatrical tradition of the work weighing down on its melancholy protagonist. (continued next page)

"In creating this version of Hamlet I wanted to show a young man's yearning for a more attractive mythic frame to act out his grief and despair with; be it the Mouse Trap, the Lion King or Hamlet itself." Through this lens, this new adaptation also grapples with issues of mental health in young people, crafting an unflinching depiction of Hamlet's depression and the devastating consequences it has on those around him as he cannot find the tools or the support to process his grief. "This is a tragedy both of a callous disregard for real life and life's cruel refusal to conform to the neat stories we are told from childhood".

At a mere 90 minutes, and with only 5 characters, Montague Basement's Hamlet is Shakespeare for people who are over Shakespeare; Hamlet for a generation who can no longer relate to Hamlet. In this production the role of Hamlet will be played by Christian Byers (ABC 3's Ready For This, Puberty Blues, The Tree, Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger). "The play, and the way we're tackling it, allows us to explore and destigmatise mental health issues, particularly in young people who are meant to be taking on the world but struggle to communally admit to feeling a bit down sometimes," says Byers. When asked about the appeal of taking on the role of Hamlet, Byers says "Well Horatio was taken." "I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would put me on stage as Hamlet. It's going to be great", says Byers. Hamlet will play at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists from the 1st -5 th December.

More information about the production here: www.montaguebasement.com/hamlet