Fifteen local residents will perform a curtain raiser at Norwich Theatre Royal on the opening night (10 Mar) of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) tragedy Hamlet.
The group consists of Charlie Caine (Musician / Project Lead), Aamer Raza, Abbe Swain, Ambar Shukla, Caroline Kitkatt, David Jones, Diane Webb, Finn Kennedy-Macmillan, Gill Tichborne, Holly Cross, Janet Hurst, Karen Vermeulen-Grainger, Mandy Kiley, Margot Tancred and Stephen Peck.
The group, led by musician Charlie Caine, has written and composed an original sea shanty, The Stoker’s Hold. Drawing inspiration from the maritime setting of Rupert Goold’s acclaimed production, which reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy aboard a ship, the group have spent weeks collaborating to find their own musical voice within the story of Hamlet.
This piece is part of Shakespeare Nation, a Royal Shakespeare Company project produced in partnership with Norwich Theatre, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Miche Montague from Norwich Theatre said: “This isn’t just a performance, it is the first outing of a piece created entirely by our community. The song’s energy captures the gritty maritime world in which this tragedy is set. It is raw, powerful, and truly sets the tone for the show.”
The Stoker’s Hold curtain raiser is part of the wider RSC Hamlet takeover at Norwich Theatre, which includes a short film of last year’s immersive community production Norwich Hamlets that saw audiences experience five unique performances throughout the city. Alongside the film is an exhibition of Ophelia’s Dress, inspired by the character Ophelia and designed by Amanda Harrold, featuring handcrafted fabric from members of the local community.
Hamlet – Shakespeare’s epic family drama of deceit and murder. The production visits Norwich Theatre Royal between 10 – 14 Mar as part of a tour, after originally opening in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon earlier this year.
Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark. After the death of Hamlet’s father, his uncle, Claudius, marries his mother and takes the throne for himself. In one of the most famous scenes in Shakespeare, Hamlet’s father appears to the young prince as a ghost, telling his son that he was murdered by Claudius. Seeking vengeance, he wants Hamlet to kill Claudius, setting off a tragic chain of events.
For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
