The original musical ‘Hamlet’ serves as a globally shared cultural symbol, with its themes transcending time and geography to resonate with the existential questions of every individual, leaving behind endless topics and boundless imagination. Xu Jun’s original musical ‘Hamlet’ is adapted from Shakespeare’s classic play of the same name, using the prism of contemporary theater to integrate cross-cultural perspectives from both the East and West, focusing on the reflective question of ‘to be or not to be’ and the essence of ‘thought and poetry’.
Created by the same team behind the original musical ‘The Orphan of Zhao’, led by Zheng Qiyuan and featuring a cast of powerful musical actors, it unleashes a distinctive modern tension, exploring the infinite beauty, boundless thought, and eternal poetry. Denmark’s king suddenly passes away, and his brother Claudius ascends the throne, marrying his brother’s wife Gertrude. Amidst a series of mysterious events, Denmark’s prince Hamlet is filled with sorrow. The ghost of his father reappears, revealing conspiracies to Hamlet and entrusting him with the task of revenge. Hamlet contemplates and feigns madness, using ‘play within a play’ to confirm the ghost’s words. The uncle and nephew engage in a game of shadow and light, leading to Hamlet accidentally killing the father of his lover Ophelia. Claudius turns the situation to his advantage, sending Hamlet to England; after a perilous journey at sea, Hamlet returns to his homeland only to learn of Ophelia’s tragic death. Overwhelmed with grief, he accepts a duel with Ophelia’s brother Laertes, stepping into a deadly trap set by Claudius and Laertes… The musical ‘Hamlet’ has been widely acclaimed and has enjoyed booming box office sales since its premiere in Shanghai in May 2023, becoming a hit of the year. It has been praised by mainstream media and experts as ‘singing its own soul, not someone else’s song’, ‘exploring the dawn of Eastern beauty in Chinese musicals’, and ‘a successful example of the Chinese expression in musicals’. The audience has highly praised it for ‘establishing the aesthetic high ground of Chinese musicals’. The full-year tour of 21 cities and 45 performances will continue to unfold with waves. ‘Even if hurt by the sharpness of the world, one must bravely face the truth of existence,’ the original musical ‘Hamlet’ embarks on a stirring voyage in the realm of musicals with its profound themes, romantic poetry, solemn momentum, deep layers, and enduring significance. The show won the ‘Outstanding Show Award’ at the 2023 Shanghai Outstanding Private Garden Troupe Exhibition; the main visual won the ‘Silver Award’ in the Drama/Film Main Visual category at the 2023 Clio Awards, being the only Asian work to win in this category this year. The show is open from 11/22 to 11/24, subject to the actual performance.Shanghai Original Musical ‘Hamlet’
The original musical ‘Hamlet’ serves as a globally shared cultural symbol, with its themes transcending time and geography to resonate […]
