Hamlet – Wakefulness reimagines the Shakespearean classic with a prologue to Hamlet, exploring the night of the old King’s murder.
Before the show, director Grzegorz Bral sets the scene, he tells us that most intellectual audiences listen and learn through emotions and eyes rather than words.
The show is triumphant in its singing. The room’s acoustics are not unlike a cathedrals, as the actors come together in a choral style. There are exquisite harmonies throughout. The vocals are without a doubt the highlight of the show.
The story of Wakefulness is hazy but it mostly follows the aftermath of the King’s death and the unfolding chaos. Personally, Hamlet is not a Shakespeare play that I am most familiar with, but it is especially hard to understand a brand new scene when most characters are ambiguous. Exploring a prequel to Hamlet perhaps should be kept as an acting exercise rather than a play in its entirety.
A talented musician performs the music live on stage, with some brief interactions between them and the actors. Alongside the wonderful singing, there is some speech that helps the plot to develop.
The staging of Wakefulness is fantastic, the scene starts with all characters surrounding the departed King. The set is made up of medieval tables and chairs, which contributes to the serious mood of the show. It is very visually engaging with different levels and dynamics for the characters.
The incredible vocals of this company are the real take away from this show, even if you were uncertain about the rest of the show.
Hamlet – Wakefulness 22:50, Main Hall at Summerhall,
