Questions and Answers for Beijing Time Out
Questions-Hamlet:
When you say this is based on the First Quarto, how much has changed until the version we see today (aside from Polonius' name)? What made you decide to do this version?
The quarto is better theatre than the more famous Folio - I should explain - in Shakespeare's day there was no definitive printed version of his plays. One-offs known as Quartos from the size of their sheets were printed, sometimes more than one for each play sometimes none. Seven years after Shakespeare's death the complete plays were collected and published in a larger Folio format. We chiefly know the plays from the Folio but more and more scholars think the quartos are more definitive. I certainly believe that the folio's were "written up" for publication - or at least represented drafts made before the plays went into rehearsal. Anyone who has worked on a big new play will know that changes are made in rehearsal and surely that is what happened to HAMLET. The quarto is not only much shorter than the folio (almost half as long) it also has obvious improvements such as scenes that are NOT in the Folio. The positioning of "To be or not to be", for example is much better, and Gertrude is not forgotten but reintroduced in the second half. But we also recognise that the poetry of the Folio is usually better than the Quarto (when there is a difference) so we have edited together a unique text that takes the structure of the Quarto and the poetry of the Folio - every word is Shakespeare but no one has ever performed this HAMLET before. We go for a strong storyline and clarity of action.
How many people in the company for this show? How many roles are doubled up?
There are seven actors in the production - four of whom have toured to China before with TNT. There is lots of doubling - even the Hamlet actor plays a humble guard at one point.
How about TNT's interpretation of Hamlet, what can people expect? Is there any comedy (I'm thinking of the beginning of Oliver Twist) Is there music? Are actors singing and playing their own instruments?
Above all this is a music theatre version - not a musical but music theatre like OLIVER TWIST. The actors sing the score (by TWIST composer Thomas Johnson) and also play drums and guitar and there is some recorded violin. Much of the music is without words and creates a powerful and emotional atmosphere (we think!). We like to call the music the eighth performer. It also of course helps to make the production and play accessible to any audience. There is comedy to - of course HAMLET is a tragedy but there is comedy, not just in the Gravedigger scene but also in other scenes with Polonius for example. But overall HAMLET is the greatest tragedy and maybe the greatest play ever written - it's an action and adventure story, an emotional thriller so don't expect too many laughs! Instead there is plenty of excitement.
What appeals to you about Hamlet in particular? About Shakespeare in general?
Shakespeare is probably the best dramatist who ever lived, and certainly the most popular. His plays are more than theatre they are part of the world's cultural and philosophical heritage. He also is a great theatre technician, he knows how to make exciting and skilful practical theatre - for example HAMLET has maybe the best first line in theatre: A guard on the battlements of a castle on a cold night is expecting a Ghost to reappear he shouts: "Who's there!" - Fantastic theatre - and the ghost does appear. The story of HAMLET is maybe Shakespeare's best, it's a love story, a power struggle, a murder thriller, a mother-son drama, and a ghost story. It contains sword fights and madness scenes, suicides and poising, songs and poetry, and of course the most famous words ever written - To be or not to be. How can any director resist the opportunity to stage this play!
By the time Hamlet comes around, TNT will have done four performances in China in twelve months. Why China? What do you like so much about performing here?
We like China and it seems China likes us - so why not? We had wonderful and increasing audiences for our work in China in 2007. We are now expanding to other cities. HAMLET tours China for six weeks. We feel we have established a relationship with Chinese audiences, we find them responsive and open - and large! We have also expanded to other countries, indeed this HAMLET tour stays in Asia from March 8th to June 2nd - touring from Dubai to Tokyo. MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is only now ending the tour that China saw in May - we are off to South America on Saturday. Meanwhile we have four other productions out in Europe. It is a busy time for us and theatre is never easy - especially financially. But somehow we make it. We have a great producer in Milky way productions in Beijing and also collaborate with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. We hope to work with Chinese artists soon and to tour China for both longer periods and with a broader geographical reach. This time we perform in three venues in Beijing, perform for two weeks in Shanghai a week in Guangzhou and also visit Chengdu, Changsha and return to Huangzhou. We had better practice our chopstick skills!
I would like to add a little story that demonstrates for me the meaning of theatre - why we do it and why it works.
This is a new production with new cast but the production is based on the HAMLET we did in 2003/4. We were invited to Iran to perform at the main festival in Tehran. We had a wonderful response and sold out and even won a prize (OK not modest but thought I would mention it). Ten days later we were in the Gulf and went to Kuwait - because of the war they cancelled at the last moment but then relented and said we could performing the main US army base . We went. Performed for the soldiers about to go into Iraq and many came to us and said that although they had never seen live theatre before Hamlet's story touched them as they went into a 'To be or not to be' world of war. The two audiences in Iran and Kuwait would probably have attacked each other if they could but they were united by HAMLET. This is what makes theatre special and I hope offers a something positive in this world of conflict an misunderstanding. We are all Hamlet because Hamlet lets us understand the human condition - which is universal. And not defined by culture, religion or nationality.
