THE COMPANY
The thirteen cast members of Hamlet are
Albertan emerging artists taking part in
Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow
theatre training program.
Keshia Cheesman
Bradley Doré
Ryan Gray
Onika Henry
Vanessa Jetté
Jesselle Laurén
Brynn Linsey
Stuart McDougall
Bianca Miranda
Joe Semenoff
Natasha Alexandra Strickey
Nick Wensrich
Greg Wilson
Horatio
Ophelia
Ensemble
Gertrude
Ensemble
Rosencrantz/Guildenstern
Laertes
Claudius
Rosencrantz/Guildenstern
Ensemble
Hamlet
Ensemble
Polonius
Kate Newby
Shari Wattling
Haysam Kadri
Deitra Kalyn
Andrew Blizzard
Cameron Porteous
Karl H. Sine
Terry Tweed
Jane MacFarlane
Carissa Sams
Graham Kingsley
Director
Script Adaptor
Program Director
Costume & Props Designer
Sound Designer
Scenic Designer
Fight Director
Text Coach
Vocal Coach
Stage Manager
Rehearsal ASM
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
At the heart of tragedy
lies the universal
struggle between a
predetermined fate that
cannot be altered and
the natural desire to
Kate Newby, director
control one’s destiny.
Yet in Shakespeare's Hamlet, the
protagonist’s fate is not predetermined; it is
propelled by the choices Hamlet makes,
spurred on by the actions of his uncle,
mother, and father. It is his own free will
that leads Hamlet through chaos, despair,
and revenge towards his end.
Hamlet is the story of a young idealist who
leaves university to attend his father’s
funeral, only to discover his world shattered
by the immediate marriage of his mother to
his uncle, the probable murder of his father
by his uncle, and the pretense of friends he
thought he could trust. In Hamlet’s attempt
to find truth and a reason to live, he is
faced with a fractured universe of madness
and deception, a world of intergenerational
conflict where the sins of the father(s) are
visited upon the children.
In our world of Hamlet, the traditional world
of the older generation clashes with the
ideals of youth. We have represented the
conflict between generations literally in this
production by contrasting the traditional
gender roles of the older generation with
the gender-blind world of the younger
generation. This visually supports the
themes raised in the text about identity in
relation to power and social constructs in a
hegemonic patriarchy.
It has been an absolute pleasure to explore
the intricate themes found in this complex
revenge drama with this company of
emerging theatre professionals. I hope you
will be as inspired by their performances as
I have been by working with them.
KATE NEWBY
Director
SHAKESPEARE BY THE BOW
SUPPORTING ALBERTA’S EMERGING ARTISTS
Shakespeare in Prince’s Island Park has a
long and treasured history in our city.
Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the
Bow gives all Calgarians an opportunity
to enjoy theatre in this gorgeous natural
setting throughout the summer.
As Calgary’s largest and longest-running
theatre company, we have a
responsibility to nurture the up-andcoming artists who will grace our stages
in future years. That’s why Theatre
Calgary established this innovative
program for recent graduates from postsecondary theatre training programs. All
of the actors are Alberta residents
embarking on the first stage of their
professional careers.
Participants in Shakespeare by the Bow
gain practical knowledge and production
experience by working with one of
Canada’s leading directors and a
professional production team to present
a Shakespeare play. The program also
features a team of mentors and coaches
providing instruction in classical text,
voice, speech, and other theatre skills
and techniques.
With the help of our audiences and
sponsors, Theatre Calgary can continue
to support our next generation of artists
and ensure the future of this beloved
summer tradition. You can help with your
donation after the performance, or by
contacting us at:
[email protected]
“Shakespeare by the Bow offers training and practical
experience that you simply can’t get in school. It is a
gift to make magic in the park every night.”
– Bobbi Goddard (The Tempest, 2015)
THANK YOU TO OUR VISIONARY
SUPPORTERS OF EMERGING ARTISTS:
WHO’S WHO?
Hamlet
The Prince of Denmark
Claudius
Hamlet’s uncle, newly King of Denmark
Gertrude
Hamlet’s mother, newly married to Claudius
Polonius
An advisor to Claudius
Ophelia
Polonius’s daughter, beloved of Hamlet
Laertes
Polonius’s son, back in Denmark from France
Horatio
A trusted friend of Hamlet
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Former friends of Hamlet
Francisco, Bernardo, and Marcellus
Soldiers of Elsinore’s castle guard
The Players
A travelling group of actors
The Ghost
Hamlet’s dead father, who was King of Denmark
THE BACKSTORY
Less than two months before the start of
the play, the King of Denmark died
suddenly. His brother Claudius took the
throne and married his widow Gertrude.
Hamlet, the son of Gertrude and the
dead king, is unhappy with the haste of
the wedding and still mourns his father.
For the past two nights, a ghost in the
shape of the dead king has walked the
castle ramparts. As the play begins,
soldiers of the castle guard wait to see if
it will appear again...
THE STORY (Contains spoilers!)
The Ghost appears to the guardsmen and
Horatio, but it will not speak to them.
At court, Claudius and Gertrude ask
Hamlet to cut short his mourning for his
father, the dead king. In secret, Horatio
tells Hamlet about his father’s ghost.
Laertes prepares to return to France,
where he lived before the king’s death.
Both he and Polonius advise Ophelia on
her relationship with Hamlet,
encouraging her to keep her distance.
At night, Hamlet and Horatio await the
Ghost with the castle guard. When it
appears, the Ghost tells Hamlet that his
father was murdered by Claudius and
charges him with getting revenge on his
uncle. Hamlet swears all to secrecy and
says that he plans to feign madness.
Ophelia tells Polonius about a disturbing
encounter with Hamlet. Polonius reports
the incident to Claudius and Gertrude.
They suspect Hamlet’s apparent madness
has been caused by Ophelia’s rejection.
Polonius and Claudius spy on a meeting
between Hamlet and Ophelia, which
confirms their belief. Polonius tries to talk
to Hamlet, but finds him rude and odd.
Meanwhile, Hamlet’s old school friends
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been
summoned by Claudius and Gertrude.
They try and fail to cheer Hamlet up.
A group of travelling players arrives at
court. Hamlet asks them to present a
play that depicts a murder similar to that
of his father, with some added lines.
At the play, Claudius panics when the
murder is portrayed, which Hamlet takes
as proof of his guilt. Polonius summons
Hamlet to his mother’s room.
Alone, Claudius tries to pray. Hamlet
almost takes his revenge, but decides
that it is not the right moment.
In Gertrude’s chamber, Hamlet confronts
his mother about her remarriage. He
stabs and kills Polonius, who was hiding
to overhear. The Ghost reminds Hamlet
that his mission is revenge on Claudius.
Hamlet hides Polonius’s body and taunts
those who search for it. Claudius decides
that he must send Hamlet away from
Denmark, as soon as that night.
Ophelia, filled with grief, sings to
Gertrude and Claudius. Laertes arrives,
angry at the news of his father’s death,
and despairs at Ophelia’s condition.
With Laertes back and seeking revenge
for his father, Claudius hatches a new
plan to get rid of Hamlet once and for all.
Gertrude brings more sad news: Ophelia
has drowned in the river.
Gravediggers banter as they prepare
Ophelia’s grave, and Hamlet ponders
mortality. At the funeral, Hamlet appears
unexpectedly and confronts Laertes.
Claudius arranges a fencing match
between Hamlet and Laertes. They each
wound each other with a poisoned sword
that Laertes brought to the duel, while
Gertrude drinks from a cup that Claudius
had poisoned. Hamlet discovers the
treachery and kills Claudius. Before
succumbing to the poison himself,
Hamlet asks Horatio to live on and tell
the world his story.
DESIGN NOTE
Costume and properties
designer Deitra Kalyn got
her first inspiration from
the production’s set, a
repurposed wooden
structure designed by
Deitra Kalyn, designer
Cameron Porteous for
Theatre Calgary’s recent production of The
Crucible. In the context of director Kate
Newby’s contemporary vision for Hamlet,
the exposed cedar beams evoked a stable
and suggested an equestrian setting.
As Kalyn told the company on the first day
of rehearsal, she became fascinated in her
research by the elite fashions of dressage
and the ways in which modern equestrian
clothing is naturally gender-neutral. As
well, the codified dress offers a rich palette
for highlighting class differences and
generational conflicts, with older characters
wearing traditional fashions while some
younger ones break with convention.
Costume research for Hamlet by Deitra Kalyn
Costume research for Ophelia by Deitra Kalyn
Costume research for Claudius by Deitra Kalyn
Costume research for Gertrude by Deitra Kalyn
DID YOU KNOW?
Shakespeare wrote Hamlet more
than 400 years ago. We don’t know for
sure when the first performance took
place, but the earliest published text
dates from 1603.
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s
most popular plays. It’s speculated
that the play is produced so much that it
is always being performed somewhere in
the world at any given moment.
At more than 4000 lines, Hamlet is
Shakespeare’s longest play. The full
text would run well over four hours in
performance, so the play is often edited.
Our version runs around 90 minutes.
The play may have connections to
Shakespeare’s personal grief. His son
Hamnet died in 1596 at age ten, while
his father John passed away in 1601.
Some scholars believe that Shakespeare
would have played the Ghost himself.
The story of Hamlet comes from a
Nordic legend. Shakespeare may have
been the first to add ghostly visitations
and the play-within-a-play to the story.
Hamlet is a revenge tragedy. Other
examples of the popular genre include
Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy and
John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi.
Shakespeare’s skill brings gravitas and
psychological complexity to the genre,
which tells stories of bloody vengeance.
Some actors have started seeing
ghosts while playing Hamlet. Daniel
Day-Lewis withdrew from the role at the
National Theatre in London after he saw
his recently deceased father onstage
during a performance.
Countless filmmakers have adapted
Hamlet. Many films use Shakespeare’s
original text, while others such as Akira
Kurosawa’s The Bad Sleep Well and
Disney’s The Lion King take inspiration
from the play’s story.
HAMLET EVENTS
HAMLET: A GHOST STORY
From July 19 to 24 (our Folk Festival hiatus),
join us at sunset on St. Patrick’s Island for a
site-specific performance experience. Check
our website for details as they are announced!
PRE-SHOW CHATS
Join members of Theatre Calgary’s artistic staff
at Café Blanca (240 Riverfront Ave SW):
 July 13, 6pm
 July 21, 8:30pm @ Sidewalk Citizen EV
(before Hamlet: A Ghost Story)
 July 27, 6pm
 August 10, 6pm
 August 17, 6pm
POST-SHOW TALKBACKS
After select performances, join members of the
Hamlet cast for a lively post-show conversation
in the park. Talkbacks will take place following
the 2pm Sunday matinee performances on:

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July
July
July
July
3rd
10th
17th
31st
 August 7th
 August 14th
 August 21st
KESHIA CHEESMAN
Horatio
Calgary
University of Calgary ‘16
First role:
Tituba in The Crucible in Grade 11
Dream role:
Billie in Harlem Duet by Djanet Sears
Who I’d haunt:
My mom and my sister, because they get
scared so easily that it would be hilarious.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Do whatever is it you must do in the moment
to take care of yourself, guilt free.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
Make a bunch of memes indirectly related to
the situation and post them on social media.
BRADLEY DORÉ
Ophelia
Sherwood Park
University of Alberta ’16
Mount Royal University ‘13
First role:
Zalman in Village of Idiots by John Lazarus
Dream role:
Elsa in Disney’s Frozen
Who I’d haunt:
Donald Trump #lizardtruth
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Let it go.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
With pro science.
RYAN GRAY
Marcellus / First Player / Lucianus / Priest
Calgary
University of Calgary ’15
First role:
It was a school play about the Good Samaritan.
I was a traveller who didn’t stop to help.
Dream role:
Willie Loman in Death of a Salesman
Who I’d haunt:
My mom, because she’d believe in me.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
From my teacher Brian Smith: You are enough,
and you can handle whatever comes your way.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
I’d find out what he holds most dear and
convince him he has to tell the truth to save it.
ONIKA HENRY
Gertrude
Calgary
University of Calgary ‘16
First role:
Mariana in Measure for Measure at U of C
Dream role:
Angélique in Angélique by Lorena Gale
Who I’d haunt:
Whoever’s fault it is that I became a ghost
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Make hay while the sun shines.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
Veritaserum (truth serum from Harry Potter),
or make him think he’s poisoned and weasel
the confession out of him during his Last Rites.
VANESSA JETTÉ
Bernardo / Player Queen / Gravedigger #2
Fort McMurray
University of Calgary ‘16
First role:
My school did Gone with the Breeze, not to be
mistake with Gone with the Wind. Two very
different shows. I was Lucy Belle Bankhead.
Dream role:
Anything and everything.
Who I’d haunt:
My mom.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Breathe!
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
I would not. Nope. No. Nooo. I don’t want
anything to do with the conscience of the king.
JESSELLE LAURÉN
Rosencrantz / Guildenstern
Calgary
University of Calgary ‘15
First role:
I played a young Who in The Grinch when I
was seven
Dream role:
Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing
Who I’d haunt:
My sister, but I would be a nice ghost.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
You’ve got to risk it to get the biscuit.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
The play’s the thing.
BRYNN LINSEY
Laertes
Rosebud
Rosebud School of the Arts ‘15
First role:
Toad in Toad of Toad Hall at Rosebud
Dream role:
Peter Pan
Who I’d haunt:
Judi Dench
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
“Get on with it.” –Morris Ertman
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
Perform for him as a clown.
STUART MCDOUGALL
Claudius
Cochrane
University of Alberta ‘16
First role:
Javert in Les Misérables in high school
Dream role:
No doubt it would be a few years, but Johnny
“Rooster” Byron in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem
Who I’d haunt:
I’d stick to a high-traffic area so I didn’t get
bored. It’s a cliché, but a theatre would be fun:
new sets to play on and new people every night!
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Walk slower!
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
Maybe just ask him?
BIANCA MIRANDA
Rosencrantz / Guildenstern
Calgary
University of Calgary ‘16
First role:
Mayabang na Gansa (the Boastful Goose) in Grade 3.
Dream role:
Whatever role I’m playing in a given moment
Who I’d haunt:
People unable to tell the difference between
common homonyms like their/there/they’re.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Magmahal ka pero magtira ka sa sarili mo. In English: Go
out there and love, but always save some for yourself.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
Send him anonymous messages saying “I know
what you did...” until he turns himself in.
JOE SEMENOFF
Ghost / Player King / Osric
Calgary
Mount Royal University ‘12
First role:
Narrator #11 in a camp play about fairy tales
Dream role:
The Penguin in Batman
Who I’d haunt:
My father. He doesn’t scare easily so I’d have
to find new, innovative ways to scare him.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
A true leader listens to his or her team, takes
100% ownership of team failures, and gives
100% credit to the team for all successes.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
Disguise myself as his psychologist.
NICK WENSRICH
Francisco / Gentleman / Gravedigger #1
Calgary
University of Calgary ‘16
First role:
Santa in my daycare’s Christmas pageant
Dream role:
Iago in Othello
Who I’d haunt:
I already haunt my house since I can usually
be found wandering the hallways late at night.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Don’t force yourself to replicate something
you’ve done in the past. Instead, rediscover it.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
An elaborate trap involving dominos, pulleys, a
stuffed elephant, and a piece of candy as bait.
GREG WILSON
Polonius
Cochrane
University of Lethbridge ‘12
First role:
Salt shaker in a school play
Dream role:
An old wizard
Who I’d haunt:
My sister, I think she’d like that.
Best piece of advice I’ve received:
Just keep swimming.
How I’d catch the conscience of a king:
With a Rube Goldberg machine.