THE TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF HAMLET - SHAKESPEARE’S FIRST QUARTO
Ensemble ‘84 presented, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet - Shakespeare’s First Quarto, a striking new staging of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Performed by our all-County-Durham cast in our new venue, The Playhouse, Horden. Dates of performance: May 26th - June 6th 2026.
Grief, betrayal and revenge. The search for truth carries a deadly cost.
Ensemble 84's upcoming production brings The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet-Shakespeare’s First Quarto to The Playhouse in Horden, County Durham. Using the rarely performed First Quarto text of Hamlet, this striking new staging brings a shorter, urgent version to Shakespeare’s tragedy, combining powerful storytelling with live music, song and movement.
A kingdom is unsettled. The King of Denmark is dead, his brother now wears the crown, and Prince Hamlet is left grieving - and suspicious. When the ghost of his father appears with a terrible revelation, Hamlet is drawn into a dangerous quest for truth and revenge. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, the royal court becomes a place of spies, deception and growing madness. Hamlet must decide how to act in a world that no longer feels certain.
The First Quarto text of Hamlet is a shorter, rarely performed version of Shakespeare’s tragedy that drives the story forward with pace, punch and clarity. Told with striking differences in structure, dialogue and character names, the story unfolds with compelling theatrical energy, bringing the drama, poetry and humanity of this great play vividly to life.
Directed by Mark Dornford-May and performed in the immersive setting of a former Roman Catholic Church, Shakespeare’s gripping tale of grief, betrayal and revenge is staged once more, providing a fresh perspective on the familiar story.
Creative Team
Director – Mark Dornford-May
Associate Director - Max Roberts
Choreographer – Lungelo Ngamlana
Music – The Ensemble with Willow Pearson
Lighting – Drummond Orr
Design - John Page/SB Scaffolding
Costume - Janet Brown
Production Manager - Kevin Brown
Stage Manager – Eve Booth
Photography - Keith Pattison
Cast
Claudius/Ghost - Thandolwethu Mzembe
Hamlet - Joe Hammal
Gertred - Wendy Hindmarsh
Horatio - Stephen Lister
Ofelia - Willow Pearson
Leartes - Brodie Jobson
Corambis/Grave digger - Keith Irons
Rossencraft - Erin Thwaites
Gilderstone - Sophie Moss
Fortenbrasse/player King - Balder Nieto
Marcellus/player Queen - Mia Cummings
Grave digger - Jenny Revell