Hamlet by The Globe theatre (Photo: from Bibliotheca Alexandrina's promotional material)
London’s Globe Theatre will stage a performance of William Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on Monday 12 January.
The visit comes as part of the theatre troupe's two year world tour, which was launched on 23 April this year, as part of celebrations marking Shakespeare's 450th birthday.
The English playwright was born on 26 April 1564, and died on 23 April 1616. The Globe Theatre, a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare's works were performed during his lifetime, was opened in 1997.
The tour aims to visit over 200 countries around the world to perform the iconic play. So far, the troupe have performed Hamlet in the Americas, the Caribbean, and eastern Europe.
Some of the world's most renowned actors have performed in the role of Hamlet, including Laurence Olivier.
In the Globe's touring production, two actors alternate in the role: London actor Naeem Hayat, a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and Nigeria-born Ladi Emeruwa, who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
The play, a tragedy, is set in the Kingdom of Denmark. Hamlet, a Danish prince, seeks to take revenge on his Uncle Claudius who killed Hamlet's father in order to seize the throne.
The story deals with a number of universal themes, including revenge, political intrigue, and philosophical contemplation.
"It depends on your social and political situation, you take away those different [elements] from the play. There are so many things in it", commented Ladi Emeruwa in a televised interview with international channel Arise News.
"The set is comprised of 16 boxes and we carry the set inside those boxes and we take those boxes with us wherever we go," Emeruwa added, commenting on the many varied places that the troupe has performed, including amphitheatres, rock stadiums, concert halls and even beaches.
Programme:
Monday 12 January 2015, 7pm
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Great Hall, Alexandria
Tickets are available at the BA ticketing office, Alexandria, and in Teatro Maadi, Cairo. Prices: LE100, 75 and 50.
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