HAMLET
HAMLET by New York Circus Project transforms Shakespeare's tragedy into a cutting-edge acrobatic performance. NYCP’s critically-acclaimed debut production brings Hamlet into a new age. Breaking the boundaries of art forms and time, this spectacle-filled production transforms Shakespeare’s most famous text into acrobatic choreography, coveying madness, heartbreak, and betrayal as never seen before. Hamlet is consumed by madness flipping around him, the ghost of Hamlet’s father soars high above the young prince, and Ophelia bends over backwards contorting herself for the sake of love. The cast and team of HAMLET includes alumni of Cirque du Soleil, Broadway, American Idol, and more, combining the best of contemporary circus and classical theater to create a new kind of circus, to create a rendition that challenges audiences’ expectations of both Shakespeare and circus. HAMLET was met with critical and audience acclaim in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Chicago.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
BroadwayWorld
“And now we have an emerging company, the New York Circus Project (NYCP), that wants to take the art of the circus one step further, into the realm of stage drama. Currently on its first national tour with their production of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” co-created by Sam Landa and Emma Owens, the NYCP offers audiences an exhilarating take on a familiar tale… Something about this monolith of a tragedy inspires some of the greatest, most inventive stagings I have ever seen. And now I can place the New York Circus Project among the companies we need to watch. This is a very auspicious debut indeed.”
- Andrew White
Artblog
“I’ve never seen a cast of actors with stronger shoulders. They were able to hold up the weight of the canon with aplomb. It is a valiant desire to take on such a well-known work and tell it again. The New York Circus Project’s daring and imaginative approach breathes new life into a timeless tale, proving that even the most familiar stories can surprise and delight us anew. Whether you’re a Shakespeare aficionado or a circus enthusiast, this production offers something for everyone.”
- Ryan deRoche
Broad Street Review
“Hamlet by New York Circus Project is a surprisingly effective adaptation of Shakespeare’s well-known play into a contemporary acrobatic performance… This production, which landed at FringeArts in late July, opened my eyes to new possibilities for Hamlet as I marveled at the performers’ strength and skill. The company incorporates text with circus arts, dance, and acting to explore Hamlet’s plot, characters, and emotions in fresh ways.”
- Melissa Strong
DC Theater Arts
“This is by far one of the most impressive Shakespeare adaptations I’ve seen in some time, from artists who love and respect their source material. These are designers and creatives who have weaved the emotion and message to this production’s music, staging, all while engaging in high-flying acrobatics, mind-boggling contortionism, and exhilarating aerial work. Audiences were quickly texting and recommending this show. This phenomenal run showcases the timeliness and the flexibility of the Bard’s work when placed, in this case, in chalked-up hands.”
- Julian Oquendo
The Young-Howze Theatre Journal
“As critics, we have a bucket list of things we haven't seen before. We have seen a production or two of Hamlet every year and we love circus arts. Yet then there comes along a group of artists that meld two worlds together, Shakespeare and Circus Arts, and the bucket list cannot contain the emotionally charged beauty that they create. The New York Circus Project led by Sam Landa and Emma Owens cut up the rich language of the Bard and created a circus collage that gave us moments we hadn't seen before. Some of the most visceral scenes in Hamlet became amazing feats of skill or strength that mirrored the journey of the main characters.”
- Ricky and Dana Young-Howze
A note from the director: Why Hamlet?
In selecting HAMLET, Emma and I had a desire to bring a show that felt experimental yet familiar. There is a constant interplay between tradition and innovation, a reliance on codifications while resisting preconceptions, that is necessary to excite modern audiences. Choosing a show that is such a well-known part of the theatrical canon allows us to portray famed characters through a new medium. Taking inspiration from narrative ballets, movement becomes the detail that fills the world and story with color. Hamlet’s madness manifests through punching, erratic acrobatics, while Ophelia literally twists herself in knots in pursuit of tormented love to her eventual watery death. Laertes is the counterpoint to the physicality Hamlet’s madness, steady in handstands and graceful in movement. Combining classic text and contemporary acrobatics, HAMLET builds a world filled with betrayal, love, and delirium.
- Sam Landa, director and co-creator
