Britain's First All-Black HAMLET Comes To Watford Palace Theatre

Following the success of their first three productions, Macbeth, She Called Me Mother, and The Diary of a Hounslow Girl, Black Theatre Live in association with Watford Palace Theatre and Stratford Circus Arts Centre are touring Hamlet around the UK with an all-black cast and creative team. Inaugural winner of the Roland Rees Bursary Mark Norfolk's adaptation casts Hamlet as a studious young black man who's forced to face the realities of his social identity, and rages against the injustice of his position.

Directed by Jeffery Kissoon, who has most notably worked for the RSC, the National Theatre, Robert Lepage, Peter Hall and Peter Brook, including Peter Brook's Hamlet, the production is a fast-moving, contemporary version that gets to the heart of a young man's dilemma.

An intelligent young student returns to discover the world he once knew has crumbled. Faced with the new king's change in regime and religion, and implored to defend what is left of his father's decaying legacy, Hamlet now faces the greatest moral challenge - to kill or not to kill.

The cast of nine is led by Raphael Sowole as Hamlet and Abiona Omonua as Ophelia. Raphael's recent work includes the Almeida's The Merchant of Venice, and Cheek by Jowl's Tis A Pity She's A Whore at the Barbican. Abiona's credits include the Menier Chocolate Factory's The Colour Purple, Legally Blonde in the West End, and Parade at the Southwark Playhouse.

Director Jeffery Kissoon said, "In Hamlet we reflect on the Black experience, anxieties, and sensibilities in a modern era. Shakespeare's wonderfully rich text explores a tormented humanity, asking the searching questions of life and death faced head-on by a young Black Prince. 'Remember me' is the theme of this production: by saying 'Remember me', the ghost of Hamlet's father is urging Hamlet to remember not just him, but his background, heritage and all those that came before him".

The three­year programme from Black Theatre Live, now in its second year, brings high quality performances from culturally diverse perspectives to venues across the country. The initiative is a partnership of Tara Arts, Derby Theatre, Queen's Hall Arts (Hexham), the Lighthouse (Poole), Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds, Theatre Royal Margate, Stratford Circus Arts Centre (London) & Key Theatre (Peterborough). @blacktlive | www.blacktheatrelive.co.uk

Running Time: 120 minutes plus interval | Suitable for ages 12+

14 - 17 Sept Watford Palace Theatre www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/ | 01923 225671

20 - 23 Sept Theatre Royal Bury St Edumunds 01284 769505 | www.theatreroyal.org

27 - 28 Sept Key Theatre, Peterborough 01733 207239 | www.vivacity-peterborough.com

4 - 5 Oct Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham 01434 652477 | www.queenshall.co.uk

7 - 8 Oct Theatre Royal Margate 01843 292795 | www.theatreroyalmargate.com

10 - 15 Oct Theatre Royal Windsor 01753 853 888 | www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

20 - 22 Oct Lighthouse, Poole 0844 406 8666 | www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

25 - 29 Oct Tara Theatre, London 020 8333 4457 I www.tara-arts.com

2 - 5 Nov Stratford Circus, London 0844 357 2625 | www.stratford-circus.com

About Black Theatre Live

Black Theatre Live is a pioneering national consortium of eight regional theatres led by Tara Arts, committed to effecting change for BAME touring theatre through a sustainable three­year programme of national touring, structural support and audience development. Black Theatre Live is a partnership of Tara Arts, Derby Theatre, Queen's Hall Arts (Hexham), the Lighthouse (Poole), Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds, Theatre Royal Margate, Stratford Circus Arts Centre (London) and Key Theatre (Peterborough). Black Theatre Live expects to work with emerging and established BAME companies across England to commission and tour high quality productions to the consortia theatres over the coming three years. The structured audience development and community engagement programmes will include live digital streaming and cinema relay.

Black Theatre Live is supported by Arts Council England

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