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Culture

A modern Hamlet without tutu

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2016-04-14 09:26Shanghai Daily Editor: Huang Mingrui
A scene from “Hamlet” Shanghai Ballet will bring tomorrow to Shanghai Grand Theater.(Photo/Shanghai Daily)

A scene from "Hamlet" Shanghai Ballet will bring tomorrow to Shanghai Grand Theater.(Photo/Shanghai Daily)

Dancers from the Shanghai Ballet will bring Shakespeare's Hamlet and his famous "to be or not to be" monologue onto the stage over the weekend in a new ballet theater that will premier at Shanghai Grand Theater.

The thrilling tragedy about conspiracy, revenge and love will be performed tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and stars Shanghai Ballet principal dancers Wu Husheng and Fan Xiaofeng. It marks the fourth cooperation between Shanghai Ballet and British choreographer Derek Deane.

Known for his classic ballet choreographies like "Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake," Deane said that he decided to work on Hamlet both to reward himself and to face a new challenge.

"I want to create something about real people, not just fairy tales. And Hamlet fits my expectation perfectly," Deane said. As opposed to some of his previous works, the characters in the story are all human beings who struggle with their emotions, from the young prince seeking revenge for the killing of his father, the queen torn between her new husband and her son, and an innocent girl who is caught up in the events.

"There is so much in this story that can be staged, such as love, hate, passion, desire, murder and suicide, rather than some one-dimensional princess in a fairy tale who only needs to pose beautifully in a tutu," Deane said, adding that working on Hamlet will be physically and emotionally challenging for the dancers.

"We are in an age when people want to see many technically demanding skills, which makes ballet quite a gymnastic show today. But in fact, ballet can be very strong in expressing emotions. I told my partners that our work this time must be an emotionally strong one," Deane said.

"The story of Hamlet is so universal that it can be told anywhere, in any language and any art form," Deane said. "I never intended to tell the whole story.... What I do is to bring out all the important emotions in Hamlet without actually spelling out what has happened. I want the audience to use their imagination, get involved and feel themselves in the production rather than just watch something happen on the stage."

The story will be told from Hamlet's view, exhibiting what he sees and feels.

  

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