Shakespeare’s Globe to perform Hamlet at the Jungle refugee camp in Calais
Shakespeare’s Globe will perform their worldwide touring production of Hamlet at the Jungle refugee camp in Calais, France on 3 February 2016. The show will be performed to residents of the camp, in partnership with Good Chance, a temporary theatre based in the Jungle which offers a varied programme of art, theatre and music events.
This performance marks the latest in a series of performances to displaced people; the Jungle refugee camp is an ad hoc encampment of around 6000 people, who have made trans-continental journeys from their home countries for a wide array of reasons.
The Hamlet company have previously performed to Syrian refugees at the Zaatari Camp in Jordan, to Yemeni refugees at the Markazi Camp, Djibouti and to Central African Republic refugees in Mandjou, Cameroon.
Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, said: “This performance will be yet another wonderful example of this ground-breaking tour’s ability to reach displaced people across the world. It’s a privilege that our Hamlet company have been able to perform in the Calais Jungle and our thanks go to Good Chance for enabling this.”
Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, Artistic Directors of Good Chance, said: “We are delighted to welcome Shakespeare’s Globe’s Hamlet to the Jungle. As a production which has travelled to audiences all over the world, it is fitting that it visits the camp here in Calais, where the fault lines of over 20 different nations meet. The Good Chance Theatre welcomes people of all ages and nationalities to share in the different cultures and traditions that provide the only positive aspect of this situation. The production is a message of solidarity with the people here, and testament to the power of theatre to unite.”
The Globe to Globe Hamlet which was granted UNESCO patronage for its engagement with local communities and its promotion of cultural education aims to play to every country in the world by 23 April 2016, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
