https://facebook.com/events/s/telthaz-sicc-production-hamlet/1240693980554973/ Link may not work as was a one-off performance
A marvellously creative and effective, music-driven abbreviated version. The seven performers combined multi-instrument performance and acting. It was very music driven with much of the music being very hard-driven, punkish even which made for a tensely exciting evening – although there were also a number of gentler, differently-styled musical elements – a particularly effective one, for its sharp contrast, being a gentle cello-accompanied part-song – at/around Ophelia’s death I think.
The performance was also, physically, quite stylized with some often very amusing group moves (a la Madness, it seemed like at times!) Characters were nearly differentiated by costume – I particularly liked Claudius’s glittering black and crystal number which effectively suggested not only superficial attractiveness but also a degree of self-absorption. Polonius was, thankfully, played amusingly; too often, he is taken almost as seriously as he takes himself.
The stage was very effectively used with three instrumental positions, DSR, DSL and USC (the percussion) and a raised square with a the centre dipping downwards, giving four sloped areas (as well as a trapdoor/grave) which was smartly but not over-used.
The whole evening was highly enjoyable. Everything moved at a good pace without ever seeming rushed (Hamlet in under 90 minutes!). And all this achieved without this audience member understanding a single word of what they were saying!