At the start of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre's production of Hamlet in a university hall in Rwanda in February, there was a power failure – the play had to be staged on the steps of the university instead.
Four months later and the players of the London theatre company found themselves on the far-flung island of Kiribati in the South Pacific – without costumes and props – to perform the Bard’s most popular tragedy. The airline had delayed the baggage of the 16-member cast, who have been touring with the production since 2014, and they ended up performing in their own casual clothes.
The adventures are all part of the company's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday – the Globe to Globe tour was initiated with the aim of staging Hamlet in all 205 countries around the world by next year, North Korea included.
The UAE is set to become the 134th country on their tour, with a Dubai performance at Ductac this weekend.
The team doesn’t expect major problems at the Mall of the Emirates venue on October 10, and promise their no-frills adaptation will leave a lasting impression.
Artistic director Dominic Dromgoole chose to internationally showcase the 16th-century English playwright’s longest work due to its universal themes. The company decided to create a minimalistic set and tour with a small all-British cast who would swap roles in every performance.
“The play speaks to everybody,” says Phoebe Fildes, one of the actors who plays Ophelia. She also takes on the roles of Gertrude, Guildenstern and Horatio.
“It’s about family, love, revenge, death, mortality and politics. So there is something that relates to every single person on the planet, regardless of where you come from,” she says.
Beruce Khan, who takes on a similar number of roles, says the rotation leads to an infinite number of versions of the play.
“The different roles we play each night keeps it exciting for us, as well,” says Khan, who adds that he is looking forward to performing in Pakistan, which is where his family comes from.
“We have a different experience each night. You can watch the play 30 times and the audience will get a new show every time.”
Fildes says they have repackaged the tale to appeal to an audience of all ages.
“Rather than setting it in a particular time and trying to make a political statement, we want to tell a simple story about relationships between people, The audience can choose to draw their own conclusions,” she says.
“It is loosely set in the 20th century but the whole play and costumes have a timeless feel to them.”
• Hamlet will be staged at Ductac in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on October 10. Tickets, from Dh175, are available from www.ductac.org
aahmed@thenational.ae
Results
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Emblem Storm, Oisin Murphy (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
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5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Wildman Jack, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Matterhorn, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Loxley, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
SUCCESSION%20SEASON%204%20EPISODE%201
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.