They cancelled Hamlet. He showed up anyway

What if this was the last performance of Hamlet, after which Shakespeare’s play would never be performed again? This is the bold challenge taken up by Ben Duke and his company, Lost Dog.

Hamlet bears a heavy responsibility for the ills of our time: he is depressed, violent and guilty of choosing procrastination over action. Having learned his drama has been cancelled, he is taking to the stage one last time.  He’s worked up some new material and he’s hoping to persuade us to let him stay. But in Lost Dog’s hands, nothing is sacred. Shakespeare’s most iconic character becomes the starting point for a darkly comic exploration of existence, love, revenge, and the stories we can’t seem to escape – no matter how hard we try.

Lost Dog is an award-winning dance and theatre company, led by director and choreographer Ben Duke. Duke’s work has been seen on the Sadler’s stage in Death Trap with Rambert, which featured the Olivier Award-winning Goat, and in White Hair as part of Elixir Festival. The company has worked with national partners including Candoco, Scottish Dance Theatre, and tours across the UK and internationally.

Header image © Camilla Greenwell

Header image description: A person sits on a stool in a bright, sparsely decorated room, resting their head on one hand. They wear light-colored clothing with a pair of boxing gloves hanging around their neck. Around them are scattered props, including a skull, wooden boxes, a crown, and pieces of clothing.