Something is rotten in the state of Victoria.
As a homicide trial unfolds, a young Hamlet stands accused of murdering Polonius. The case may sound like a familiar drama, but everything else here is the real deal. Actual barristers, a legitimate judge, court psychologists and QCs: this is no mock trial and no two performances are the same.
All play their part and they play to win, but the fate of a youth hangs in the balance, and in the end it’s a real jury—perhaps including you—who will decide Hamlet’s innocence or guilt.
With this dynamic and gripping work, Dutch and Spanish provocateurs Yan Duyvendak and Roger Bernat interrogate one of the defining institutions in our civic society, examining the lines between truth and justice, theatre and law.
Learn more about the show before you go:
Artists in Conversation
Sat 7 October 12.30PM
FREE
Yan Duyvendak will discuss cross-genre collaboration at a free artist talk. More info and registration →
Legal teams
Thursday 5 October—Acquitted of Murder
Judge The Hon Professor George Hampel AM QC
Prosecution Dr John Champion SC (Director of Public Prosecutions for the State of Victoria) with Jeremy McWilliams
Defence Lesley Taylor QC (chair of the Victorian Bar’s Criminal Bar Association) with Daniel Aghion
Judge's Associate Grant Lubofsky
Forensic Pathologist Associate Professor Dr David Ranson
Friday 6 October—Hung Jury
Judge The Hon David Habersberger QC
Prosecution Dr Matt Collins QC (Senior Vice-President of the Victorian Bar) with Evelyn Tadros
Defence Fiona McLeod SC (President, Law Council of Australia) with Anne Hassan
Judge's Associate Daniel Kinsey
Forensic Pathologist Dr Joanna Glengarry
Saturday 7 October—Acquitted of Murder
Judge The Hon Ray Finkelstein AO QC
Prosecution Sally Flynn with Rachel Ellyard
Defence Julian Burnside AO QC with Lucy Kirwan
Judge's Associate Andrew Yuile
Forensic Pathologist Dr Byron Collins
Sunday 8 October—Acquitted of Murder
Judge The Hon Frank Vincent AO QC
Prosecution Elizabeth Ruddle with Hadi Mazloum
Defence Ashley Halphen with Matthew Albert
Judge's Associate Katrina Chow
Forensic Pathologist Dr Joanna Glengarry
Monday 9 October—Acquitted of Murder
Judge The Hon Betty King QC
Prosecution Robert Richter QC with Katherine Brazenor
Defence Philip Dunn QC with Tom Danos
Judge's Associate Rachel Matson
Forensic Pathologist Dr Linda Iles
A chillingly clever production… mixing theatre and courtroom, Shakespearian tragedy and legal comedy.
- Creators
- Yan Duyvendak and Roger Bernat
- Hamlet
- Chris Ryan
- Gertrude
- Genevieve Picot
- Ophelia
- Jessica Clarke
- Scenography in collaboration with
- Sylvie Kleiber
- Production
- Dreams Come True, Genève
- Management
- Marine Magnin
- Tour Management
- Ligne Directe / Judith Martin
- Communication and Production
- Raphaël Rodriguez
- Technical Administrator
- Leo Garcia
With support from the Victorian Bar Association, Melbourne and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Co-production: le Phénix scène nationale Valenciennes; Huis a/d Werf, Utrecht; Théâtre du GRÜ, Genève; Le Nouveau théâtre de Montreuil – centre dramatique national
Residencies: Montévidéo, Marseille; Le Carré/Les Colonnes, Scène conventionnée, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles/Blanquefort.
With the financial support of: City of Geneva; République et canton de Genève; Pro Helvetia Fondation suisse pour la culture; Migros pour-cent culturel; La Loterie Romande; Ministerio de Cultura-INAEM, Mécènes du sud, Marseille; Le Nouveau théâtre de Montreuil – centre dramatique national; CORODIS.
PHOTO | Magali Girardin
