Summer Shakespeare Festival: Hamlet in the Royal Gardens
Due the reconstruction underway on the luxurious building of the Supreme Burgrave’s House, audience will be able to enjoy Shakespeare in the open air. It will undoubtedly be a magical experience, even though it is not a voluntary and permanent change, but a temporary alternative that should last 2 years.
Hence, the 20th year of the festival in Prague will traditionally be held at the AMU Music and Dance Academy located in the Lichtenstein Palace on Malostranské náměstí, and newly in the Summer Ballgame Hall of the Royal Gardens at Prague Castle.
How will Shakespeare sound in the outdoors?
Because it is a location close to a busy road, you might think that the luxurious experience of exceptional plays might be ruined by poor acoustics. However, at a press conference the organisers announced that the location will be duly arranged. It is situated between the Ballgame Hall and Belvedere, whereas the stage will be built near the Ballgame Hall. The performance area is already separated from the road by a wall of containers, but these will of course be tastefully decorated during the performance, and will create a pleasant backdrop in addition to serving as an acoustic barrier.
Biggest novelty at the festival: Hamlet
Of all the plays on show this year, the greatest attention will most likely be drawn by the tragedy Hamlet, which is a novelty at the Summer Shakespeare Festival. The play was translated by Martin Hilský, directed by Michal Vajdička and the music was composed by Michal Novinski. The role of Hamlet will be performed by Jaroslav Plesl, Claudio and the ghost will be performed by Hynek Čermák, and Gertrude by Lenka Vlasáková.
Luxurious Shakespeare plays in Czech
In addition to Hamlet, which shouldn’t be missed by any Shakespeare lover, the repertoire includes another 10 plays, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliette, The Comedy of Errors, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing and more.
The festival also includes the exceptional project Tribute to Shakespeare, which was originally conceived on the occasion of an important Shakespearean anniversary. Solemn and humour dialogues and sonnets accompanied by live music and singing will be presented by popular actors such as Jan Tříska, Vendula Křížová, Mojmír Maděrič and Štěpánka Heřmánková.
