Shakespeare's Globe theatre in Bengaluru, livestream 'Hamlet'

"Hamlet," the longest play written by Shakespeare is being brought to Bengaluru in an abridged version by UK's Globe theatre, a reconstruction of the open air theatre built by the famous English dramatist.
The play, which has been adapted countless times across the world, including into Bollywood films is set to be staged at Ranga Shankara theatre on October 18 in association with the British Council.
The council will be livestreamed to enable anyone within the country with Internet access to watch.
"We are excited to partner with the Globe Theatre for the first time in India. It is one of the most renowned theatre companies in the world. The play will be web-cast nationally which is a first in itself," Rob Lunes, Country Director, British Council India said.

The stripped down version of the classic tragedy, just 12 actors perform over two dozen parts on a stripped-down wooden stage in a comparatively brisk two hours and forty minutes.
"The staging of the play directed by Dominic Dromgoole and Bill Buckhurst is part of an ambitious two year long 'Globe to Globe' program launched in 2014 April, in which the theatre proposes to tour with "Hamlet" to every country in the world," says Vivek Mansukhani, Director of Arts, British Council.

Director Dromgoole says, the aim is to "perform to as many people as possible, in as diverse a range of places as possible. The central principle of the tour is that Shakespeare can entertain and speak to anyone, no matter where they are on earth; and that no country or people are not better off for the lively presence of Hamlet."

In 1608, only eight years after it was written, "Hamlet" was performed on a boat - the Red Dragon - off the coast of Yemen. Just ten years later it toured extensively across Northern Europe.
"The spirit of touring, and of communicating stories to fresh ears, was always central to Shakespeare's work. We couldn't be happier to be extending that mission even further. By train, coach, plane and boat we aim to take this wonderful, iconic, multifarious play to as many fresh ears as we possibly can," says Dromgoole.
Till date the tale encompassing political intrigue, sexual obsession, philosophical reflection and violent action, tragic depth and wild humor has been enacted in 129 countries in the world and the ambition is to take it to 205 countries.

In 2012 at the 'Globe to Globe' festival 110,000 people - 80 per cent of whom were first-time visitors to the Globe - flocked to watch 37 works of Shakespeare performed in 37 different languages over just six weeks.