Hamlet's Clouds

A long series of activities is scheduled from October 2 to 11. Among them, the premiere of the Odin Teatret ensemble's new show “Hamlet's Clouds”.

dedicated to Hamnet and to young people with no future

Actors: Antonia Cioaza, Else Marie Laukvik, Jakob Nielsen, Rina Skeel, Ulrik Skeel, Julia Varley
Lighting design and video: Stefano Di Buduo
Film adviser: Claudio Coloberti
Costumes: Odin Teatret
Scenic space: Odin Teatret
Technical director: Knud Erik Knudsen
Director’s assistants: Gregorio Amicuzi and Julia Varley
Text, dramaturgy and director: Eugenio Barba

In 1596, Hamnet, the only son of William Shakespeare, dies at the age of eleven. Five years later Shakespeare loses his father and during the period of mourning writes The Tragic Story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. In the irregular spelling of the time, “Hamnet” and “Hamlet” are practically interchangeable. Many scholars have written long books on the relationship between Hamnet and Hamlet.

The play tells of the Danish King Hamlet, who bears the same name as his son, poisoned by his brother Claudius and his wife Gertrude who are lovers. Their passion is intertwined with another tragic love story between Prince Hamlet and the young Ophelia.

The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to his son, giving him the task of killing and avenging him. What does this story tell us today? What inheritance have we received from our fathers that we will pass on to our children?