Hamlet

Synopsis
Feature length, low-budget version of Hamlet filmed in Derry, Northern Ireland. The film cuts the text heavily and rearranges scenes while making interpretative use of locations and accents to draw parallels between Hamlet’s situation and Northern Ireland’s cultural and political history. Hamlet’s ‘to be, or not to be’ speech is spoken in the Irish language.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Film
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Year of release
2005
Duration
90 mins

Credits

Director
Stephen Cavanagh
Producer
Keith O’Grady; Richard Hughes
Writer
William Shakespeare
Cast
Stephen CavanaghHamlet
James LeckyClaudius
Yvonne RichardsonGertrude
Dominic StewartPolonius
Simone KirbyOphelia
Ann FitzpatrickPlayer (2)
Anthony DohertyHoratio
Charlie HughesPlayer (1)
Chris SimpsonLaertes
Colin Stewart (2)Rosencrantz
Martin O’BrienGuildenstern
Richard HughesThe Association
Tony BrownGhost

Additional Details

Production type
Fiction Films
Historical period
Contemporary
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
politics; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
The Derry Film Initiative is distributing the film online on videogoogle.com.uk - see web address field.
General
The cast and crew have worked on the project free of charge, and all equipment used was either been borrowed or owned by crew members, in addition all locations, sets and props were provided free by local businesses, organisations and individuals. The estimated budget was £5,000.

The film is dedicated to Dominic Stewart (Polonius) who died during production.
History
First shown at the 2005 Shakespeare Association of America conference.
Reviews
Hopkins, Lisa. Shakespeare Bulletin, vol. 23, no. 2, Summer (2005)pp 52-53.

Online Availability

Online URL
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8957003244474950410

Production Company

Name

Derry Film Initiative

Address
Northern Ireland

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Hamlet". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av38025 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)