TEATRO LA PLAZA

• Written and Directed by Chela De Ferrari
• Assistant Directors, Dramaturgs Claudia Tangoa, Jonathan Oliveros, Luis Alberto León
• Choreography Mirella Carbone
• Voice Coaching Alessandra Rodríguez
• Visual Design Lucho Soldevilla
• Lighting Design Jesús Reyes
• Producer Siu Jing Apau
• Cast Octavio Bernaza, Jaime Cruz, Lucas Demarchi, Manuel García, Diana Gutierrez, Cristina León Barandiarán, Ximena Rodríguez, Álvaro Toledo

Lasts approx. 95’ w/o interval

Age Recommendation: 13+

How do you exist in a world that refuses to see you? In this radical retelling of Hamlet, eight performers with Down syndrome breathe new life into Shakespeare’s most staged tragedy, transforming its iconic soliloquy and its resonances.

Forget everything you know about Hamlet. In this production by Peruvian theatre company Teatro La Plaza, the performers do not appeal to the audience’s conscience, do not rally politicians to act, nor do they cling to an idealised dream of equality. Instead, they hold up a mirror – reflecting themselves authentically and inviting everyone to embrace their differences with pride.

Who among us hasn’t, at some point, felt inadequate under the weight of societal ideals like productivity, efficiency, and beauty? Or wrestled with a sense of uselessness in a world that equates value with utility? One reason Hamlet continues to speak to us more than four centuries later is its deeply human portrayal of alienation and shared fragility.

This Hamlet is innovative in that the performers not only tell their own stories but also reimagine the titular character as an outsider, someone pushed to the margins. Their Hamlet is not simply a figure of suffering, but one of resistance, inquiry, and persistence – someone who insists on being heard.

The production is directed by Chela De Ferrari, founder and artistic director of Teatro La Plaza, known for her commitment to giving voice to everyday people on stage. Jaime Cruz, for instance, worked at the theatre’s box office for years before stepping into the spotlight. Today, he delivers some of Hamlet’s most quoted lines with remarkable power. De Ferrari previously staged The Seagull with visually impaired actors.

Having toured Peru, Spain, France, Belgium, the UK, and China since 2022, this Hamlet made its UK premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2024. Now, it meets Turkish audiences for the first time – not just as ‘a different kind of performance’, but as a bold, honest, and deeply affecting interpretation.

‘Deconstructed take on the Danish prince centres people with Down’s syndrome (...) the result is upbeat and oozes charm, humour and imagination.’
— The Guardian

‘A different Hamlet is possible: actors with Down syndrome shatter prejudice and reclaim the theatre as a space of triumph.’
— El País

‘Exuberant, passionate and profoundly special.’
— The Stage

General sales begin at 10.30 on Friday, 25 July. Priority sales will begin at 10.30 for Black Tulip Card and White Tulip Card members on Wednesday, 23 July, and Red Tulip Card members on Thursday, 24 July.