One actor. Eight characters. A guitar, a saw, a camera, an audience and AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’.

Peadar de Búrca takes the audience on an intense, hour-long journey through the key themes of “Hamlet”. Shakespeare’s classic drama is performed here in the original Shakespearean English, yet in a form that is accessible to Polish audiences familiar with the modern language. This is not a traditional play – it is a theatrical experience.

This production of “Hamlet” is dynamic, compact and full of emotion. It remains clear, occasionally surprises with its humour, yet never loses its dramatic power.

I’ve seen many live productions – McKellen’s timeless take, Cumberbatch’s ‘sweet prince’, Sam Wanamaker’s irreverent version at the Globe – the key is not to strive for some unattainable definitive version, but to make a 400-year-old play relevant to a modern audience. “In this version, there will be laughter and there will be tears, and only brave or aspiring actors should sit in the front row, because I guarantee it will be an unforgettable hour of your life, says de Búrca.

Only one actor appears on stage, yet he is able to switch between several characters at once. This is why the audience plays such a vital role; just as in Elizabethan theatre, they become part of the action and help to create the atmosphere of the performance – they speak up and contribute to the plot. Everything happens quickly here: the action never slows down, the tension keeps building, and the music carries the story from the first scene to the last.

The musical element plays a special role in this production, as it primarily sets the rhythm, heightens the emotions and ties the whole performance together.

Hamlet is a tragedy. It is often a comedy, too. It is a play about acting. It is a revenge drama, a crime story, a tale that celebrates both the glory of humanity and its utter insignificance – notes Peadar de Búrca. – In this version, there will be laughter and there will be tears. And whoever sits in the front row will surely never forget that hour for the rest of their life – adds the author.

The performance will be accompanied by live music performed by Paweł Gosek.

“Hamlet” – a performance in English, with no translation. Admission is free, but places are limited.