An Exciting Experiment in Classical Theatre: Theatre Erindale Presents William Shakespeare’s HAMLET!

The Theatre and Drama Studies (TDS) program is proud to present the second in its Studio Series – Hamlet by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by Coordinator David Matheson.  The TDS degree is run in partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga. 

Director David Matheson says “It is vital for young actors to come to grips with heightened language and classical texts.  That being said many of these plays are heavily dominated by male parts. That is a big challenge from a training perspective because our classes are majority female.”  Matheson has switched the genders of some of the roles rather than ask the women to play men.

This Hamlet is truly unique. In fact, each performance will be a new experience! The cast will change from performance to performance.  Matheson has “double cast” the show – meaning that each role is given to two actors in the company and for every performance some of the parts shift.  The role of Hamlet herself/himself has both a female and male actor playing the role, opening up new and exciting possibilities with the relationships in the play . This production tests as many iterations as we can!  The more times you see the show the better – as nuances open up when the casts shift. See both shows on the same Saturday (2:00 and 7:30) and you will see everybody play their main part! 

This production will tour as well.  Part of our student’s training includes taking their work on the road and adapting to a fresh space.  The first week of performances take place at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus.  The following week the production travels to Sheridan College, Trafalgar Campus, room H113. Tickets can be reserved at each venue at the emails and numbers below and then purchased at the door. 

Show Information:

Hamlet will be running at Deerfield Hall, University of Toronto Mississauga, Rehearsal Studio A from Feb 2^nd to Feb 5th.

• Thursday Feb. 2^nd   @ 7:30
  
• Friday Feb. 3^rd   @ 7:30
  
• Saturday Feb. 4^th @ 2:00
  
• Saturday Feb. 4^th @ 7:30
• Sunday Feb. 5^th @ 2:00

Hamlet then transfers to Sheridan College, Trafalgar Campus for the second week of the run.  Performances will take place in Room H113.

• Thursday Feb. 9^th   @ 7:30
  
• Friday Feb. 10^th @ 7:30
  
• Saturday Feb. 11^th @ 2:00
  
• Saturday  Feb 11^th   @ 7:30
• Sunday Feb 12^th @ 2:00

Tickets are 5$ pay at the door. To reserve a seat at UTM call Theatre Erindale Box Office at (905-569-4369) For tickets at Sheridan, call Theatre Sheridan (905-815-4049).  We expect that this show will sell out! Seating is limited with an audience of 50. 

The Cast:

• CClaudius – Jackson Watt-Bowers/ Soykan Karayol
• Gertrude – KhaRa Martin / Lucy Morgan
• Ghost/Priest – Samantha Madeira-Costa / Jennifer Francis
• Guildenstern/Barnardo/Osric – Eric Gordon / Peter Moceri
  
• Hamlet – Amanda Mcpherson / Jake Settle
  
• Horatio – Kaitlyn White / Mackenzie Connelly
  
• Laertes/Player King-Queen – Khira Wieting / Kyle Mcdonald
  
• Ophelia – Zenia Sethna / Emily Clarke
  
• Polonius – Michael Ruhs / Hannah Termaat
  
• Rosencrantz/Francesco/Gravedigger – Jillian Robinson / Rachel Lebovic

• Director: David Matheson
  
• Assistant Director: Nathaniel Kinghan
• Stage Manager: Jan Munroe
  
• Voice Coach: Alicia Richardson/Meredith Scott
• Movement Coach: Melinda Little
• Music Composition/Sound Design: Khira Wieting