Review by: Jo Tomalin
ForAllEvents.com
Inspired Innovative Original Hamlet!
Award-winning Lost Dog dance theatre company from the United Kingdom is led by director/choreographer Ben Duke, who also performs in this production, together with two dancers Miguel Altanuga and Hannah Shepherd. This original play, loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet is produced and presented September 22 – 30, 2026 by Théâtre de la Ville-Théâtre des Abbesses, theatre in Paris, France, as part of Focus on Ben Duke, September/October 2026.
Is it true that Shakespeare’s Hamlet has been staged too many times? Ben Duke thinks not, and from the point of view of an actor wanting to play Hamlet one more time, a radio interview drives an intriguing story forward. The radio interviewee we listen to is none other than the voice of a very well regarded British theatre director and all around creative. There’s more we hear about this play, that it’s misogynistic – the female characters are always portrayed in the same way and change is needed!
Duke relishes the challenge to present his version of events in parallel with some from his own life, and starts the performance within a play. He loses no time catching us up with these events, speaking directly to the audience, which is an interesting and effective device. He and his company have experienced budget cuts, we learn and while he will play Hamlet, the other characters in the play will be played by stuffed animals. We are introduced to Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother played by a giant goose stuffie, and Claudius, Hamlet’s antagonist uncle and then stepfather, played by a large coiled plushy snake.
This cast of three maneuver the other characters and the innovative set around the stage as well as create verbal and non verbal scenes from Hamlet’s life including innovative dance and movement. The choreography which is a combination of duos and trios is especially notable for its earthy fluidity and original muscular acro motifs. It should be noted that the dance sections meld with other scenes extremely well, are always justified and add texture to the visual storytelling of the entire play. A seemingly simple yet imaginative transformative set by décor (and costume) designer Soutra Gilmour is a work of art with many boxes that contain never ending surprises in how they are used and what they contain. Ophelia is the key to this story – after the provoking interview at the start about misogyny – and the character portrayal in this play is a more forthright and assured Ophelia than we usually see her. An inventive inevitable scene of a river with Ophelia swimming is beautifully shown with projections and movement using the height of the set as a stage for actors to overlook the river below.
Duke is fearless and creative in his concept of this play and performance as Hamlet (or himself) when gently integrating audience members into the action, projecting media and video with a certain amount of tight structure combined with moments of free form improv – while wearing an orange animal onesie! Duke’s inspired mise-en-scène and the sum of all these parts add up to an inspiring and fascinating show with surprises and lots of creativity. Don’t miss it!
More Information
Théâtre de la Ville-Théâtre des Abbesses:
https://www.theatredelaville-paris.com/en
Lost Dog Dance:
https://www.lostdogdance.co.uk/
Jo Tomalin studied with Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She completed the two year professional course at Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, Paris, France, where she also completed the Laboratoire du Mouvement (LEM) scenography, mask and movement course.
Originally from England, Jo is currently based in San Francisco, where she reviews Theatre & Dance for www.ForAllEvents.com & www.FringeReview.co.uk. She is a Professor in the School of Theatre & Dance at San Francisco State University where she teaches performance subjects and directs MainStage plays. She also works in the performing arts field as a freelance movement & voice specialist, director + actor. Jo’s play “Jessica” which she also directed was produced at the Fringe of Marin – a One Act New Play Festival in Northern California.
Jo Tomalin graduated with a degree from London University’s Laban Centre Teaching Credential program in Modern Dance, Art of Movement & Choreography; studied Classical Acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London; completed a teacher’s diploma (ATCL) in Voice and Acting from Trinity College of Dramatic Art, London; and studied classical ballet for 12 years.
Jo also holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University, MN, and a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology from Boise State University in the USA.
