Hamlet attempts to escape from all prejudice and discrimination, as well as societal and theatrical conventions, by creating a dialogue between the original text and the more personal narratives of the cast members.
This is one of the most unique and meaningful versions of Hamlet I’ve ever seen. Produced by Peruvian theatre company Teatro La Plaza, directed and written by Chela De Ferrari, this version of Hamlet presents the stories of people with Down’s syndrome. Rather than being an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this play is a narrative that uses the framework of Hamlet to explore the lives of people with Down syndrome. This play, which consists of eight adult actors with Down syndrome, deconstructs and retells the original play by focusing on several key themes—like the question, “Who is Hamlet?”
As the performers enact the story of Hamlet, they also weave in reflections on their own lives, their interpretations of the characters, and incorporate elements such as electronic music, rap, and multimedia videos. The crown is passed among the actors, each one expressing Hamlet’s inner turmoil in their own voice, redefining his pain in ways that are personal and universally understood. Hamlet’s famous question, “To be or not to be,” is his existential dilemma and search for the meaning of life. In this production, people with Down syndrome, who are often viewed as “different,” also confront struggles for survival and independence. In reality, there are societal prejudices against those with Down syndrome, seeing them as burdens, as marginalized members of society.
In the play, the actors take turns portraying Hamlet and Ophelia, sharing their own life stories—about love, family, and their personal experiences. This intertwining of their pursuit of a meaningful life with Hamlet’s existential questions effectively brings together the challenges faced by people with Down syndrome and the struggles of Shakespeare’s character. There’s a saying: “There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes.” In this play, I saw that everyone is Hamlet, especially those who face unique challenges, each grappling with their own existential dilemmas.
One moment that deeply moved me was when the cast discussed how to portray Hamlet. Initially, someone imitated Laurence Olivier’s version of the character, but another cast member stepped forward to suggest that they should perform their own Hamlet. This moment was a powerful expression of the cast’s desire to assert their own identities, to reject living within the confines of others’ definitions, and to raise their voices. They are shouting to the world in their own simple but profound words. At the end of the play, the actors invited the audience to join them on stage to dance, which is like a communal celebration of the joy of life.