Theatre in the Forest - Hamlet
Vincent Moisy as Hamlet. Credit: Bill Jackson
Review by Martine Silkstone
There is something wonderful in the grounds of Sutton Hoo.
And, yes, that is a twist on the famous quote from Hamlet - because Hamlet is this year’s amazing al fresco offering from Red Rose Chain.
Last night was my second time at Theatre in the Forest, and for the second time, it was the perfect weather, the perfect location, the perfect cast and the most wonderful play.
Now, Hamlet may sound dry and heavy for those not already fans of the Bard.
I, for one, have been a fan of his comedies for a long time, but still often find the tragedies to be rather hard work and sometimes too dark of spirit for my liking. Not so in this case.
Watching this production was a revelation.
Yes, (as their songs goes) you will hear of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts, as per the source text, but here the classic tragedy has been reworked by Artistic Director, Joanna Carrick, using a humour and lightness of touch that makes Shakespeare fun and accessible to all.
It still has all the glorious language and all the tortured emotion you need to tell the story well, but it’s performed by a cast that keeps the audience engaged and lifted when needed. They toy with crowd and move among them, bringing those watching into the action and connecting in a way that seems relaxed and easy, but in fact needs huge skill to accomplish without interrupting the narrative.
And of course, the story is complex - when isn’t it with Shakespeare!
In fact, being necessarily abridged could make it hard to follow for the uninitiated, so it was fantastic to have a graphic-novel-style outline in the programme to prepare beforehand. I’ll try to do the same here…
In Elsinore castle, somewhere in Denmark, we find Prince Hamlet, who has a best friend called Horatio and a girlfriend called Ophelia.
Hamlet’s father has died and his mother has remarried his uncle Claudius. But when Hamlet and Horatio are visited by the ghost of the old King, they discover that Claudius actually murdered him. Hamlet seeks revenge for his father’s death but, in trying to kill his uncle, he accidentally kills Ophelia’s father. Now her brother, Laertes, also seeks revenge.
To escape, Hamlet’s friends take him away on a ship to England, but on the way it is attacked by pirates (stay with me) and they take him back to Denmark. When he arrives he discovers Ophelia, having gone mad, has drowned.
Now he is back, Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet with a poisoned sword and poisoned drink (belt and braces, I suppose), and as we reach the final act, a fight begins. Feeling thirsty as the action unfolds, Hamlet’s mother drinks the poison by mistake. Meanwhile, Hamlet and Laertes both get hit with the sword and just before he succumbs to the poison, Hamlet also stabs Claudius.
Spolier alert:
In the end, everyone is dead except Horatio.
The cast of Hamlet, puppet by Charlie Tymms. Credit: Bill Jackson.
Now, that all sounds rather depressing and it is fair to say that this cast fully embrace the growing sense of madness, with their occasionally emotional performances reinforced by a subtle echo across the surrounding landscape. There are also moments of well-choreographed violence and a suggestion of suicide followed by a sacrilegious burial.
It could be a difficult watch.
But this is a production of light and shade, carefully balanced by a skilled group of actors, so actually, it is just a joy.
Vincent Moisy has presence and a charismatic madness as Hamlet, Georgia Redgrave is sweet and ultimately unhinged as Ophelia, and Emily Jane Kerr is strong and innately funny as Gertrude. Then you have Seb Yates Cridland as Laertes, Rei Mordue as Rosencrantz and Joseph Russell as Horatio. All amazing and most playing multiple roles.
A special mention also for the hilarious Ailis Duff as Polonius, and Matt Penson, who added a quiet gravitas as Claudius and The Ghost.
And, speaking of which, The Ghost is worth the ticket price alone, being represented by a huge, visually stunning puppet, handled by several members of the cast at different times.
What a group of professional, multi-talented, performers!
And I love how these guys mutter funny things as they leave the arena, and sometimes perform from the ‘wings’ - it makes for an, exciting all-round experience where you constantly feel part of the action. Such fun!
Throw in some modern day songs and a growing atmosphere as the light fades, and you have a open-air show that everyone will love - Shakespeare fan or not.
A few tips to take away:
The location is great for pre-show and interval picnics.
It’s a good idea to apply some insect repellent.
Even on a warm day, the evening can get a little chilly so you may want to bring a blanket for snuggling just in case.
Dogs are welcome but be aware that the actors move through the crowd so it wouldn’t be suitable for ‘reactive’ pets.
They provide free ponchos if it rains.
Theatre in the Forest - Hamlet is at Sutton Hoo until 23 August.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE