The Week Junior - UK (2022-03-19)

20 The Week Junior • 19 March 2022

Entertainment

Shakespeare reimagined

I

f you have never seen Hamlet by William

Shakespeare, you are in for a treat. Despite

being written more than 400 years ago,

the play’s themes – love, loss, family,

anxiety, power – mean it is an action-

packed thriller that still entertains

audiences today.

“We see characters going

through such familiar and timeless

territory that Shakespeare’s stories

will always be relevant,” Kiren

Kebaili-Dwyer tells The Week Junior.

Kebaili-Dwyer plays Prince Hamlet in

the National Theatre’s specially adapted

version of the play for audiences aged eight to 12.

The plot is fairly simple. Hamlet’s father is dead

and his uncle has taken over the kingdom.

Then Hamlet sees a ghost

that reveals a dreadful deed

has been done. Will Hamlet

seek revenge? Kebaili-Dwyer

says the crew had a lot of fun putting

together the new version of the play

and says it is “an energetic, fun, fast-

paced and easy-to-understand retelling

of one of Shakespeare’s best-known

tragedies.” The National Theatre’s Hamlet

coincides with Shakespeare Week, which

runs from 21 March to 27 March and is a chance for

people around the UK to celebrate Shakespeare and

his work. The writer’s influence can be seen in today’s

films and TV shows. For example, doesn’t the plot of

Hamlet sound quite like the story of Simba (whose

father dies in mysterious circumstances and whose

uncle then takes over the kingdom) in Disney’s classic

film The Lion King?

Hamlet will be on at the Dorfman Theatre, in

London, from 24 March to 6 April. On 5 April there

is a relaxed environment and British Sign Language

performance. The production will also be touring

schools in Essex and Sunderland, England. For more

information, visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-hamlet

Three more Shakespeare Week events

Henry VI Unwrapped

On 23 April, at Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and

online, Henry VI Unwrapped shows how the actors

and crew brought the play to life (age 12 and above).

Have a look backstage at tinyurl.com/TWJ-HenryVI

Shakespeare competition

For those aged 11 and under, there is a competition

based on a quote from one of Shakespeare’s plays

• and you can draw, write, sing or even dance your
  answer. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-SWcomp

Out of the Deep Blue

Also on 23 April in Stratford-upon-Avon, England,

is Out of the Deep Blue. It is a free play in the Swan

Gardens about Eko, a 13-foot-tall sea giant puppet,

who meets Violet, played by a dancer.

The cast perform their

version of Hamlet at a school.

Enjoy a special updated version of a timeless play.

Eko the

sea giant.

Go behind

the scenes.

Shakespeare

Week fun.

Kiren

Kebaili-Dwyer

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