Hamlet
cutting and notes by Lindsay Price from the original by Shakespeare
A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's tragic tale of murder, ghosts and revenge.
About 60 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
24
15 M | 9 W, Doubling Possible
Simple Set
47 pages
Undeniably the most famous play in the English language. The ghost of Hamlet's father orders Hamlet to avenge his murder. Hamlet's inaction leads to madness and tragedy. The play's the thing.
Characters
24
15 Men, 9 Women, Doubling Possible
Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.
-
Francisco
[M]
6 lines
- A Solider
-
Bernardo
[M]
8 lines
- A Solider
-
Marcellus
[M]
13 lines
- A Solider (officer)
-
Hamlet
[M]
131 lines
- Prince of Denmark, nephew to Claudius. Several Monologues.
-
Claudius
[M]
40 lines
- King of Denmark
-
Gertrude
[W]
29 lines
- Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother
-
Ghost
[M]
7 lines
- Hamlet Senior, the ghost of Hamlet's father
-
Polonius
[M]
17 lines
- Chief advisor to the King
-
Ophelia
[W]
21 lines
- Daughter to Polonius
-
Laertes
[M]
29 lines
- Son to Polonius
-
Horatio
[M]
4 lines
- Friend to Hamlet
-
Rosencrantz
[M]
11 lines
- Childhood friend of Hamlet
-
Guildenstern
[W]
14 lines
- Childhood friend of Hamlet
-
Osric
[M]
8 lines
- Member of the court
Players (Five players for the dumb show):
- King (M), Queen (W), Poisoner (M), and two followers/dancers (W)
- A Priest [M]
- First Gravedigger [M]
- Second Gravedigger [W]
- A Messenger [W]
- A Gentlewoman [W]
- Lords and Ladies to fill out the court scenes.
- Subgenres
- Shakespeare
- Settings
- 16th Century / Elizabethan
- Dress
- Fantasy costumes Period costumes
- Audience
- Pre-teen Teen
- Features
- Variable Cast Size Tableau Masks Opportunity for spectacle Dance Character study Stage combat Variable gender breakdown
- Set
- Simple set
- Cautions
- Adult themes Onstage murder
- Themes
- Betrayal Death Illness/Health Love Parenting/Family Individuality Obedience Morality Revenge Personal responsibility Self-image
- Cross-Curricular Uses
- Shakespeare
- Other uses
- Competition Monologues Audition material Class work Scene work
Prop List
Letter, packet of letters, masks, crown, poison, recorder, swords, knife, flowers, shovels, skull, cup, jug of wine, pearl
Multimedia
Related Titles
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
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All others must pay at the time of ordering.
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Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.
Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.
Hamlet
cutting and notes by Lindsay Price from the original by Shakespeare
About 60 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
24
15 M | 9 W, Doubling Possible
Simple Set
47 pages