iHamlet

In true Shakespearian fashion Ashraf Johaardien took command of the old English and brought the character of Hamlet to life. In this solo act, Ashraf combines and embodies the young vigour ,excitement and  the confused mind set of the character  which comes from Hamlets deep anger and hatred for his uncle and his mother.

Going through the many emotions and the mad journey of the prince of Denmark, iHamlet is based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but this show, being a bold and deeply expressive piece is rooted in the quest for identity and finding his place in a world which he can’t seem to understand.

With his ‘villainous’ uncle looming over his head, he struggles to find who he is. He is lost in a world of despair which is characterised by his deep love for his father and the bedrail caused by his mother who is then wed to his uncle.  His struggles go through phases which also see Hamlet taking on a feminine role in discovery of his sexuality. 

In his rebellious ways, the audience gets taken aback by the emotions and passionate performance. It’s easy to find Hamlet as an indescribable character, but his words really emote the performance where one could not equate any words to describe the tribulations of this youth.

Broadened by mirrors and the use of reflections, the music selection as well as the setup of the stage in its levels and depth, this modern version of the classic is perfect for those with a love of Shakespeare and dramatic art with its Victorian humour which captures the imagination of a select cultured audience as the old English proves tricky to keep up with and the full journey of the character which is not completely understood.