Interview Questions for HAMLET
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most often produced works. What makes The Purple Hibiscus’s production unique?
The first and most noticeable aspect of the production is that it is all female. That’s not to say that we will be making any changes to the play itself regarding gender, the characters are still the same but played by female actors. We have also given the play more claustrophobic feel by setting it entirely in Elsinore and focusing only on the royal family. To this end, we have used The Space to become the castle; the audience will be seated as though they are part of the court and thus become part of the action.
There are many relevant and interesting themes explored in the play. Which do you think are the most important to The Purple Hibiscus’s production?
We will tackle the theme of madness which constantly surfaces during the play and the many other themes of honour, duty, ambition, sacrifice, repression, justice. We also wish to make the hierarchical system between those in power and those whom serve very obvious which leads into another theme that we wish to explore, that of isolation. Our royal family in the play is isolated from the people it rules, their world doesn’t seem to include the people of Denmark and they are very rarely mentioned during the play. By setting our play entirely within Elsinore we are hoping to show our protagonists totally cut off from the rest of the world.
Can you explain why you decided to use an all-female cast for this production?
It is not a new ideafor female actors to play Shakespeare; as far back as the 1800s, Sarah Bernhardt played Hamlet on stage, she was even one of the first people to play Hamlet on film. There have also been many other all-female productions of Hamlet and each production has had its own reason for doing it. Part of the Purple Hibiscus’s mission is to find the right artist for the right production; regardless of gender, race or creed. Shakespeare’s characters should be open to all races or genders to perform. There are many fine female actors that would never have the chance to play some of the roles in this play and there is no real reason for it. If the actor is playing the character there should be no problem as to what gender the actor is.So the answer to the original question really is “why not?”
What made you want to take on directing Hamlet, one of the Bard’s longest and best-loved works?
Hamlet is a play that divides many audiences, a fascinating study in a character, power and the abuse of it. It has been said before, but any of the themes of the work are relevant to today’s society. I was interested in exploring the royal characters in particular, in presenting a psychological portrait of power and its effect on its subjects.
Can you tell us some more about The Purple Hibiscus Theatre Company? How was the company founded and what are its goals?
The Purple Hibiscus was founded by Lucie Novak in 2011.Lucie wanted to create a platform for actors, directors, playwrights and artists to come together and share their passion for their chosen craft. She wishes to present pieces from around the world, both classical and modern, to show the cache of treasures which people in this country may not be familiar with; to bring new life to these sometimes forgotten pieces; to discover the possibilities of each chosen play and their relevance to an audience through experimentation with movement, music, and visual arts.
How did you get involved with The Purple Hibiscus Theatre Company?
Lucie and I met as actors last year and we have worked together twice, most recently, she played the main role in “Pinocchio”. It was while working on this play, a version which dealt with many of the themes of the original story, such as poverty, family and duty, and presenting an authentic Italian world for the play, we realised that our visions of storytelling coincided. We found that we had much in common and our passions for our craft brought us together to form an artistic bond. This is the first production of the Purple Hibiscus Theatre Company and I’m looking forward to many more.
How did you get your start working in theatre or directing?
I trained at the Oxford School of Drama and graduated in 2001. Since then, I have worked mainly as an actor. I started my career in Bristol, working for Theatre West in their productions of“Sexual Perversity in Chicago”, “Wilderness” and “Poaching Deer in Northern Arizona”. It was here that I first started writing and directing, most notably the films “A Warriors Path” and “New Coat of Paint”. After appearing in “Paresis” and “Betrayal” at the Bristol Old Vic, I returned to London, where I continued acting. Recently, I returned to writing with “Pinocchio, and directing with “Hamlet”.
What has been your most rewarding experience working in theatre thus far?
It is very hard to choose one rewarding experience out of so many. I think we learn from every job we do in our profession, and sometimes the experiences we have are hard and hurt at the time but they are still part of the learning process as are the joyous ones.
In particular, I have found working on Hamlet has been very rewarding thus far. Our actors and technicians are amazing and working with them has been a privilege. The amount of talent, energy and commitment they have each brought to the production has been incredible.
What drew you and The Purple Hibiscus to working with The Space?
The Space is the perfect setting for our Hamlet. It is so perfect that we have chosen to use every available inch as our stage. The Space is Elsinore. Also it has been a pleasure to work with Adam and Mari whose help and enthusiasm have made the process of producing our first show a joy.
What’s up next for you in the world of theatre? Does the Purple Hibiscus have any upcoming productions?
The Purple Hibiscus has many plans for the future. We have been looking at bringing three of Chekhov’s one act plays to the stage, as well as Jean Genet’s “The Maids”, a revival of “Pinocchio”, leading to a production of “Blood Wedding”. We have also been looking at producing films and have scripts in development. The future is looking very busy for us indeed.