The unique theater festival Midsummer Scene, which takes place at the fort Lovrjenac, showed the famous Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet, directed by Helen Tennison last night.
Played by Helen Millar, who last year embodied Olivia in the Twelfth Night, Hamlet was certainly an unique exerience to see, feel, and enjoy last night. By choosing a female Hamlet goes in an opposite way from classical English theatrical tradition where all roles had to be played by men. In Helen Tennison’s vision, the female Hamlet begins living like a man to be able to inherit the crown. In this way, all the relationships between the characters are placed in a new context and the questions raised by this drama are shown in a different light. The so-called women’s tradition of playing Hamlet is present in England for many years now. The french diva Sarah Bernhardt played Hamlet in France and England at the end of the 19th century and a long line of actresses to have accepted these roles is joined by Frances de la Tour and Maxine Peake.
How she feels like Halmet, Helen told Just Dubrovnik team in an interview few days ago. Check it here!
The festival MidSummer was initiated in 2014 when it marked the 450th anniversary of the author’s birth while the 3rd edition again tackles Shakespeare, this time marking the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death.
Midsummer Scene already has a tendency to become traditional, and it is a platform for similar future international artistic concepts and co-operations. Midsummer Scene festival is a project of the City of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board while the production and organization are realized by the exceptional cooperation of Brilliant Events Dubrovnik and Honey -Tongued Theatre Productions from London.
Hamlet is played every day at 9.30 pm on fort Lovrjenac up until 7th of July, except 28th of June.