“A bold new interpretation”  – THE SUNDAY MAIL

Hamlet marked a fruitful collaboration between The Queensland Performing Arts Trust and Matrix through the Merivale Programme, an initiative to provide support to independent companies to stage their own works. Hamlet featured an impressive array of Brisbane performers, including the experienced David Clendinning, Nicola Scott and Michael Forde, melding with the up-and-coming talents of performers such as Bryan Probets and Aaron Catalan. Lewis Jones directed, Kate Stewart again designed and Michael Futcher played the prince, in a leanly-cut two-hour version, which was well-received as a refreshing, meticulous and energetic re-telling of Hamlet’s story.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

DATES
20th May – 10th June, 1999

VENUE
Merivale Studio

DIRECTOR
Lewis Jones

DESIGNER
Kate Stewart

CHOREOGRAPHER
Helen Howard

LIGHTING DESIGNER
Geoff Squires

FIGHT DIRECTOR
Scott Witt

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Luke Harriman

INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Francis Gilfedder, Gary Nunn

STAGE MANAGER
Prue Harrison

ASM
Gemma Sharwood

CAST
Charles Barry: Polonius, Gravedigger
Aaron Catalan: Laertes
David Clendinning: Ghost, Player King, Priest
Michael Forde: Claudius
Michael Futcher: Hamlet
Catherine Miller: Ophelia
Bryan Probets: Marcellus, Rosencrantz, Osric
Michael Sams: Bernardo, Guildenstern, Player Queen
Nicola Scott: Gertrude
Scott Witt: Horatio

REVIEWS

Every age needs its Hamlet, and Matrix’s version has captured our end-of-century hysteria to perfection…a Hamlet so finely-honed and sharply-etched that even the most blasé theatre-goer will come away refreshed.” 

Mercurial and meticulous, Futcher delivers intelligence, pensiveness and fulminating bursts of energy into the role.”