St Mary's Calne
On Tuesday 11 March, my fellow A Level English students (LVI & UVI) and I set off for Stratford Upon Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare, to watch a matinee performance of Hamlet.
The day began with a backstage tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, which included a preview of the Hamlet stage and costumes. We were then shown props from productions over the years, most memorable of which was a prosthetic nose complete with warts and boils. It was fascinating to get an understanding of how a Shakespeare production comes together, and the time and effort that goes into putting on a play.
We then sat down in the jam-packed theatre to watch Rupert Goold's direction of Hamlet. Set on SS Elsinore, modelled on the Titanic, the play was cut to be performed within the two hours and forty minutes it took for the Titanic to sink. We wondered whether Goold and Luke Thallon's (Hamlet) collaboration would live up to the critical acclaim, that this was 'THE Hamlet of the decade'.
The play began with the striking sea-burial of old King Hamlet, complete with ceremonial gunshots and hymns. This production spared no expense when it came to costume, lighting and sound, all of which were immaculately designed and perfectly fitted it with the maritime aesthetic of the production. By the time the interval arrived, we were all fully immersed and ready for more.
The second act was every bit as impactful as the first, with Hamlet’s declining mental state accelerating along with the plot. The actor’s already mighty talents were accentuated by swelling live music and a stage that literally tilted and tipped as the play reached its climax.
Brilliant acting, innovative staging and completely immersive soundscapes made this a production of Hamlet none of us will ever forget.
Georgina F, LVI