To Be Or Not To Be … Times Three

Fans of Shakespeare’s gloomy Danish prince have three Hamlet events to choose from at the York International Shakespeare Festival this month, in the Creative Centre of York St John University.

On April 23 – traditionally Shakespeare’s birthday – The University of Arts Targu Mures, from Romania, present their take on the play. Just one month: that’s how long Hamlet has to mourn before his father’s ghost appears and asks him to avenge his death. Hamlet was supposed to be a poet, but now he must become a soldier.

On 25 and 26 April, Common Ground Theatre perform their version of Hamlet. The show is directed by Sadie Jemmett, formerly of Footsbarn Theatre, who brought their beautiful production of Twelfth Night to the International Shakespeare Festival in 2024. At the heart of the performance are three young people—Hamlet, Ophelia, and Laertes—each struggling to cope with profound personal loss and intense expectations.

Through these characters, audiences are invited to reflect on their own experiences of love, loss, and grief. This is Hamlet told with empathy, clarity, and relevance—a powerful exploration of the emotional truths at the heart of Shakespeare’s work.

And on April 28, audiences can explore Hamlet performances from around the world, based on the archive kept by pioneering director David Gothard, and rounded off with a concert of music inspired by Shakespeare.

Further details of these events, and over 40 more during the Festival, are at yorkshakes.co.uk