Hamlet – Dublin Theatre Festival – Review

TEATRO LA PLAZA – HAMLET – BASED ON THE PLAY BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, ADAPTED BY CHELA DE FERRARI
Duration: 1 hr 35 mins, no interval
Dates: 25-27 Sept, 7:30pm

Before we go any further, let’s deal with the Elephant(s) in the room. Teatro La Plaze are a company from Peru, and as such, their work is performed in Spanish with English surtitles (don’t forget your glasses). The other unusual aspect of this production is that the entire cast has Down Syndrome. Also, while the production is ‘based on’ the work by Shakespeare, it has been adapted by Chela De Ferrari, and it is quite a transformation of the original text! The production takes some famous scenes and quotes from Hamlet, but it is largely original text, making it into something entirely new.

From Teatro La Plaza’s website (via Google Translate), the company creates work “so that children and adolescents dream of a country where no one feels excluded”. In this work, they explore discrimination and prejudice while giving us a fresh insight into the lives of those born with Down syndrome. Some scenes delve into Hamlet, as one actor wonders how to perform the famous ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy, as the weight of the famous actors from the past bears down on him. The screen behind the actor fills with images of the well-known actors and how they delivered these lines. There are also rap and musical numbers, dance scenes, and liberal use of audience participation, especially in the final moments.

As the play begins, the large stage of the O’Reilly Hall is almost entirely empty of props. There is a large cast, with 9 actors on stage at various times. There is a screen at the back of the stage, and the company make liberal use of video imagery, with both live and recorded footage. Small elements of props and scenery are brought on stage seamlessly, and it’s a production that feels light and constantly evolving. Each scene is introduced, and the production moves in very different directions.

If you’re looking for a traditional interpretation of the Bard’s work, then this definitely isn’t for you. Other productions in the Dublin Theatre Festival might be closer to your needs. What the production does deliver is something fresh and original. There is a warmth to the production, and the people on stage exude positive energy and a good deal of humour with deadpan delivery. It’s a production that will open your eyes to the lives of others, which should be the aim of any work of art/ theatre. Have you ever wondered what a neurodivergent tree acts like? You have two more chances to find out.

Written and Directed by Chela De Ferrari
Associate Direction & Associate Playwriting: Jonathan Oliveros, Claudia Tangoa, Luis Alberto León
Choreography: Mirella Carbone
Lighting Design: Jesús Reyes
Cast: Octavio Bernaza, Jaime Cruz, Lucas Demarchi, Manuel García, Diana Gutierrez, Cristina León Barandiarán, Ximena Rodríguez, Álvaro Toledo