the company - theatre calgary · the company the thirteen cast ... a trusted friend of hamlet...

THE COMPANY The thirteen cast members of Hamlet are

Albertan emerging artists taking part in

Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow

theatre training program.

Keshia Cheesman Horatio

Bradley Doré Ophelia

Ryan Gray Ensemble

Onika Henry Gertrude

Vanessa Jetté Ensemble

Jesselle Laurén Rosencrantz/Guildenstern

Brynn Linsey Laertes

Stuart McDougall Claudius

Bianca Miranda Rosencrantz/Guildenstern

Joe Semenoff Ensemble

Natasha Alexandra Strickey Hamlet

Nick Wensrich Ensemble

Greg Wilson Polonius

Kate Newby Director

Shari Wattling Script Adaptor

Haysam Kadri Program Director

Deitra Kalyn Costume & Props Designer

Andrew Blizzard Sound Designer

Cameron Porteous Scenic Designer

Karl H. Sine Fight Director

Terry Tweed Text Coach

Jane MacFarlane Vocal Coach

Carissa Sams Stage Manager

Graham Kingsley Rehearsal ASM

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

At the heart of tragedy

lies the universal

struggle between a

predetermined fate that

cannot be altered and

the natural desire to

control one’s destiny.

Yet in Shakespeare's Hamlet, the

protagonist’s fate is not predetermined; it is

propelled by the choices Hamlet makes,

spurred on by the actions of his uncle,

mother, and father. It is his own free will

that leads Hamlet through chaos, despair,

and revenge towards his end.

Hamlet is the story of a young idealist who

leaves university to attend his father’s

funeral, only to discover his world shattered

by the immediate marriage of his mother to

his uncle, the probable murder of his father

by his uncle, and the pretense of friends he

thought he could trust. In Hamlet’s attempt

to find truth and a reason to live, he is

Kate Newby, director

faced with a fractured universe of madness

and deception, a world of intergenerational

conflict where the sins of the father(s) are

visited upon the children.

In our world of Hamlet, the traditional world

of the older generation clashes with the

ideals of youth. We have represented the

conflict between generations literally in this

production by contrasting the traditional

gender roles of the older generation with

the gender-blind world of the younger

generation. This visually supports the

themes raised in the text about identity in

relation to power and social constructs in a

hegemonic patriarchy.

It has been an absolute pleasure to explore

the intricate themes found in this complex

revenge drama with this company of

emerging theatre professionals. I hope you

will be as inspired by their performances as

I have been by working with them.

KATE NEWBY

Director

SHAKESPEARE BY THE BOW SUPPORTING ALBERTA’S EMERGING ARTISTS

Shakespeare in Prince’s Island Park has a

long and treasured history in our city.

Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the

Bow gives all Calgarians an opportunity

to enjoy theatre in this gorgeous natural

setting throughout the summer.

As Calgary’s largest and longest-running

theatre company, we have a

responsibility to nurture the up-and-

coming artists who will grace our stages

in future years. That’s why Theatre

Calgary established this innovative

program for recent graduates from post-

secondary theatre training programs. All

of the actors are Alberta residents

embarking on the first stage of their

professional careers.

Participants in Shakespeare by the Bow

gain practical knowledge and production

experience by working with one of

Canada’s leading directors and a

professional production team to present

a Shakespeare play. The program also

features a team of mentors and coaches

providing instruction in classical text,

voice, speech, and other theatre skills

and techniques.

With the help of our audiences and

sponsors, Theatre Calgary can continue

to support our next generation of artists

and ensure the future of this beloved

summer tradition. You can help with your

donation after the performance, or by

contacting us at:

[email protected]

“Shakespeare by the Bow offers training and practical

experience that you simply can’t get in school. It is a

gift to make magic in the park every night.”

– Bobbi Goddard (The Tempest, 2015)

THANK YOU TO OUR VISIONARY

SUPPORTERS OF EMERGING ARTISTS:

mailto:[email protected]

WHO’S WHO?

Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark

Claudius

Hamlet’s uncle, newly King of Denmark

Gertrude

Hamlet’s mother, newly married to Claudius

Polonius

An advisor to Claudius

Ophelia

Polonius’s daughter, beloved of Hamlet

Laertes

Polonius’s son, back in Denmark from France

Horatio

A trusted friend of Hamlet

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Former friends of Hamlet

Francisco, Bernardo, and Marcellus

Soldiers of Elsinore’s castle guard

The Players

A travelling group of actors

The Ghost

Hamlet’s dead father, who was King of Denmark

THE BACKSTORY

Less than two months before the start of

the play, the King of Denmark died

suddenly. His brother Claudius took the

throne and married his widow Gertrude.

Hamlet, the son of Gertrude and the

dead king, is unhappy with the haste of

the wedding and still mourns his father.

For the past two nights, a ghost in the

shape of the dead king has walked the

castle ramparts. As the play begins,

soldiers of the castle guard wait to see if

it will appear again...

THE STORY (Contains spoilers!)

The Ghost appears to the guardsmen and

Horatio, but it will not speak to them.

At court, Claudius and Gertrude ask

Hamlet to cut short his mourning for his

father, the dead king. In secret, Horatio

tells Hamlet about his father’s ghost.

Laertes prepares to return to France,

where he lived before the king’s death.

Both he and Polonius advise Ophelia on

her relationship with Hamlet,

encouraging her to keep her distance.

At night, Hamlet and Horatio await the

Ghost with the castle guard. When it

appears, the Ghost tells Hamlet that his

father was murdered by Claudius and

charges him with getting revenge on his

uncle. Hamlet swears all to secrecy and

says that he plans to feign madness.

Ophelia tells Polonius about a disturbing

encounter with Hamlet. Polonius reports

the incident to Claudius and Gertrude.

They suspect Hamlet’s apparent madness

has been caused by Ophelia’s rejection.

Polonius and Claudius spy on a meeting

between Hamlet and Ophelia, which

confirms their belief. Polonius tries to talk

to Hamlet, but finds him rude and odd.

Meanwhile, Hamlet’s old school friends

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been

summoned by Claudius and Gertrude.

They try and fail to cheer Hamlet up.

A group of travelling players arrives at

court. Hamlet asks them to present a

play that depicts a murder similar to that

of his father, with some added lines.

At the play, Claudius panics when the

murder is portrayed, which Hamlet takes

as proof of his guilt. Polonius summons

Hamlet to his mother’s room.

Alone, Claudius tries to pray. Hamlet

almost takes his revenge, but decides

that it is not the right moment.

In Gertrude’s chamber, Hamlet confronts

his mother about her remarriage. He

stabs and kills Polonius, who was hiding

to overhear. The Ghost reminds Hamlet

that his mission is revenge on Claudius.

Hamlet hides Polonius’s body and taunts

those who search for it. Claudius decides

that he must send Hamlet away from

Denmark, as soon as that night.

Ophelia, filled with grief, sings to

Gertrude and Claudius. Laertes arrives,

angry at the news of his father’s death,

and despairs at Ophelia’s condition.

With Laertes back and seeking revenge

for his father, Claudius hatches a new

plan to get rid of Hamlet once and for all.

Gertrude brings more sad news: Ophelia

has drowned in the river.

Gravediggers banter as they prepare

Ophelia’s grave, and Hamlet ponders

mortality. At the funeral, Hamlet appears

unexpectedly and confronts Laertes.

Claudius arranges a fencing match

between Hamlet and Laertes. They each

wound each other with a poisoned sword

that Laertes brought to the duel, while

Gertrude drinks from a cup that Claudius

had poisoned. Hamlet discovers the

treachery and kills Claudius. Before

succumbing to the poison himself,

Hamlet asks Horatio to live on and tell

the world his story.

DESIGN NOTE

Costume and properties

designer Deitra Kalyn got

her first inspiration from

the production’s set, a

repurposed wooden

structure designed by

Cameron Porteous for

Theatre Calgary’s recent production of The

Crucible. In the context of director Kate

Newby’s contemporary vision for Hamlet,

the exposed cedar beams evoked a stable

and suggested an equestrian setting.

As Kalyn told the company on the first day

of rehearsal, she became fascinated in her

research by the elite fashions of dressage

and the ways in which modern equestrian

clothing is naturally gender-neutral. As

well, the codified dress offers a rich palette

for highlighting class differences and

generational conflicts, with older characters

wearing traditional fashions while some

younger ones break with convention.

Deitra Kalyn, designer

Costume research for Hamlet by Deitra Kalyn

Costume research for Ophelia by Deitra Kalyn

Costume research for Claudius by Deitra Kalyn

Costume research for Gertrude by Deitra Kalyn

DID YOU KNOW?

Shakespeare wrote Hamlet more

than 400 years ago. We don’t know for

sure when the first performance took

place, but the earliest published text

dates from 1603.

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s

most popular plays. It’s speculated

that the play is produced so much that it

is always being performed somewhere in

the world at any given moment.

At more than 4000 lines, Hamlet is

Shakespeare’s longest play. The full

text would run well over four hours in

performance, so the play is often edited.

Our version runs around 90 minutes.

The play may have connections to

Shakespeare’s personal grief. His son

Hamnet died in 1596 at age ten, while

his father John passed away in 1601.

Some scholars believe that Shakespeare

would have played the Ghost himself.

The story of Hamlet comes from a

Nordic legend. Shakespeare may have

been the first to add ghostly visitations

and the play-within-a-play to the story.

Hamlet is a revenge tragedy. Other

examples of the popular genre include

Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy and

John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi.

Shakespeare’s skill brings gravitas and

psychological complexity to the genre,

which tells stories of bloody vengeance.

Some actors have started seeing

ghosts while playing Hamlet. Daniel

Day-Lewis withdrew from the role at the

National Theatre in London after he saw

his recently deceased father onstage

during a performance.

Countless filmmakers have adapted

Hamlet. Many films use Shakespeare’s

original text, while others such as Akira

Kurosawa’s The Bad Sleep Well and

Disney’s The Lion King take inspiration

from the play’s story.

HAMLET EVENTS

HAMLET: A GHOST STORY

From July 19 to 24 (our Folk Festival hiatus),

join us at sunset on St. Patrick’s Island for a

site-specific performance experience. Check

our website for details as they are announced!

PRE-SHOW CHATS

Join members of Theatre Calgary’s artistic staff

at Café Blanca (240 Riverfront Ave SW):

July 13, 6pm

July 21, 8:30pm @ Sidewalk Citizen EV

(before Hamlet: A Ghost Story)

July 27, 6pm

August 10, 6pm

August 17, 6pm

POST-SHOW TALKBACKS

After select performances, join members of the

Hamlet cast for a lively post-show conversation

in the park. Talkbacks will take place following

the 2pm Sunday matinee performances on:

July 3rd

July 10th

July 17th

July 31st

August 7th

August 14th

August 21st

KESHIA CHEESMAN Horatio

Calgary

University of Calgary ‘16

First role:

Tituba in The Crucible in Grade 11

Dream role:

Billie in Harlem Duet by Djanet Sears

Who I’d haunt:

My mom and my sister, because they get

scared so easily that it would be hilarious.

Best piece of advice I’ve received:

Do whatever is it you must do in the moment

to take care of yourself, guilt free.

How I’d catch the conscience of a king:

Make a bunch of memes indirectly related to

the situation and post them on social media.

BRADLEY DORÉ Ophelia

Sherwood Park

University of Alberta ’16

Mount Royal University ‘13

First role:

Zalman in Village of Idiots by John Lazarus

Dream role:

Elsa in Disney’s Frozen

Who I’d haunt:

Donald Trump #lizardtruth


Let it go.


With pro science.

RYAN GRAY Marcellus / First Player / Lucianus / Priest

Calgary

University of Calgary ’15

First role:

It was a school play about the Good Samaritan.

I was a traveller who didn’t stop to help.

Dream role:

Willie Loman in Death of a Salesman

Who I’d haunt:

My mom, because she’d believe in me.


From my teacher Brian Smith: You are enough,

and you can handle whatever comes your way.


I’d find out what he holds most dear and

convince him he has to tell the truth to save it.

ONIKA HENRY Gertrude

Calgary


First role:

Mariana in Measure for Measure at U of C

Dream role:

Angélique in Angélique by Lorena Gale

Who I’d haunt:

Whoever’s fault it is that I became a ghost


Make hay while the sun shines.


Veritaserum (truth serum from Harry Potter),

or make him think he’s poisoned and weasel

the confession out of him during his Last Rites.

VANESSA JETTÉ Bernardo / Player Queen / Gravedigger #2

Fort McMurray


First role:

My school did Gone with the Breeze, not to be

mistake with Gone with the Wind. Two very

different shows. I was Lucy Belle Bankhead.

Dream role:

Anything and everything.

Who I’d haunt:

My mom.


Breathe!


I would not. Nope. No. Nooo. I don’t want

anything to do with the conscience of the king.

JESSELLE LAURÉN Rosencrantz / Guildenstern

Calgary


First role:

I played a young Who in The Grinch when I

was seven

Dream role:

Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing

Who I’d haunt:

My sister, but I would be a nice ghost.


You’ve got to risk it to get the biscuit.


The play’s the thing.

BRYNN LINSEY Laertes

Rosebud

Rosebud School of the Arts ‘15

First role:

Toad in Toad of Toad Hall at Rosebud

Dream role:

Peter Pan

Who I’d haunt:

Judi Dench


“Get on with it.” –Morris Ertman


Perform for him as a clown.

STUART MCDOUGALL Claudius

Cochrane

University of Alberta ‘16

First role:

Javert in Les Misérables in high school

Dream role:

No doubt it would be a few years, but Johnny

“Rooster” Byron in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem

Who I’d haunt:

I’d stick to a high-traffic area so I didn’t get

bored. It’s a cliché, but a theatre would be fun:

new sets to play on and new people every night!


Walk slower!


Maybe just ask him?

BIANCA MIRANDA Rosencrantz / Guildenstern

Calgary


First role:

Mayabang na Gansa (the Boastful Goose) in Grade 3.

Dream role:

Whatever role I’m playing in a given moment

Who I’d haunt:

People unable to tell the difference between

common homonyms like their/there/they’re.


Magmahal ka pero magtira ka sa sarili mo. In English: Go

out there and love, but always save some for yourself.


Send him anonymous messages saying “I know

what you did...” until he turns himself in.

JOE SEMENOFF Ghost / Player King / Osric

Calgary

Mount Royal University ‘12

First role:

Narrator #11 in a camp play about fairy tales

Dream role:

The Penguin in Batman

Who I’d haunt:

My father. He doesn’t scare easily so I’d have

to find new, innovative ways to scare him.


A true leader listens to his or her team, takes

100% ownership of team failures, and gives

100% credit to the team for all successes.


Disguise myself as his psychologist.

NATASHA ALEXANDRA STRICKEY

Hamlet

Calgary


First role:

Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Grade 9

Dream role:

After being so immersed in Shakespeare, I’d

have to say Ophelia (go figure).

Who I’d haunt:

Whoever leaves my funeral first.


“Acting is like a quilt. You need to sew one

square at a time.”


I would put on a play called My Name Is Inigo

Montoya. You Killed My Father. Prepare To Die.

NICK WENSRICH Francisco / Gentleman / Gravedigger #1

Calgary


First role:

Santa in my daycare’s Christmas pageant

Dream role:

Iago in Othello

Who I’d haunt:

I already haunt my house since I can usually

be found wandering the hallways late at night.


Don’t force yourself to replicate something

you’ve done in the past. Instead, rediscover it.


An elaborate trap involving dominos, pulleys, a

stuffed elephant, and a piece of candy as bait.

GREG WILSON Polonius

Cochrane

University of Lethbridge ‘12

First role:

Salt shaker in a school play

Dream role:

An old wizard

Who I’d haunt:

My sister, I think she’d like that.


Just keep swimming.


With a Rube Goldberg machine.

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