The British acting company, Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS), will present William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, “Hamlet” at Hope College on Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland as part of the Great Performance Series.
One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, “Hamlet” explores themes of revenge, madness, mortality and the supernatural. In the play, Prince Hamlet is haunted by the ghost of his father, who reveals that he was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle, the new king. Driven by the need for vengeance, Hamlet struggles with the concepts of reality, revenge and death, leading to a tragic and unforgettable conclusion.
Actors From The London Stage, celebrating its 50th anniversary, returns with the production of this iconic masterpiece. The company was founded in 1975 at the University of California, Santa Barbara, by Professor Homer “Murph” Swander and the renowned stage and screen actor Sir Patrick Stewart, best known as Captain Picard in the “Star Trek” franchise, and Professor Xavier in the “X-Men” films.
The AFTLS company ethos and mission are simple. Five actors take the stage, with minimal props and costumes, and direct themselves in a performance of a complete Shakespeare play, with each actor portraying multiple roles.
The actors making up the current company are Joanna Clarke, Esmonde Cole, Sadie Pepperrell, Michael Wagg and Jack Whitam. The members of the troupe spend an entire week on Hope's campus interacting with students in classes and sharing their love for theatre, Shakespeare and performing.
The company has been based at the University of Notre Dame since 2000. AFTLS previously had residencies and performances at Hope in 1999, 2003 and 2015.
Tickets are $29 for regular admission, $25 for senior citizens and Hope faculty and staff, $15 for children ages 18 and younger, and free for Hope students. Tickets are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located in downtown Holland in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at 616-395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St. between College and Columbia Avenues.