Shakespeare’s Globe performs Hamlet to audience of Syrian refugees at
Zaatari camp in Jordan, in partnership with UNESCO
Monday 26 October 2015
At 11am local time on Sunday 25 October, Shakespeare’s Globe performed their worldwide
touring production of Hamlet at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan. The show took place
at the International Research & Development site in District 2 of the camp, with an audience
of around 200 refugees.
Located close to the Jordan-Syria border, Zaatari was opened in 2012 by the Jordanian
government and international agencies as part of a massive emergency response to the
Syrian civil war. It is now home to over 80,000 people, making it the fourth largest ‘city’ in
Jordan.
Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, said: “Amongst a host of
treasurable moments, the visit to Zaatari was one of the highlights of our global Hamlet tour.
Playing to a vibrant audience from the very young to the very old, the stage regularly
besieged by infants who wanted to join in, the show interrupted by a Biblical sandstorm, and
finishing to roars of appreciation at the death of Claudius, it was an experience we will never
forget. Our thanks to UNESCO and UNHCR for organising it, and our gratitude and respect
to all the residents of the camp whom we met.”
The performance was the result of a collaboration between Shakespeare’s Globe, the United
Nations Scientific, Economic and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations High
Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) and International Research & Development (IRD).
The Globe to Globe Hamlet aims to play to every country in the world by 23 April 2016, the
400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The tour was granted UNESCO patronage for its
engagement with local communities and its promotion of cultural education.
ENDS
EDITORS’ NOTES
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The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse: The candlelit Jacobean theatre at Shakespeare's
Globe opened in January 2014. The Playhouse hosts concerts and other events
throughout the summer, with the main indoor theatre season running October to April.
Globe Education: One of the largest arts education departments in the UK; each year,
over 100,000 people of all ages and nationalities participate in its public events,
workshops and courses. Globe Education also runs extensive outreach programmes for
students and teachers in the Southwark community, nationally and internationally.
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Globe Exhibition & Tour: Open to the public all year round, the Globe Exhibition and
Tour explores the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived, and the theatre for
which he wrote.
Globe On Tour: The Globe’s productions tour extensively in the UK and internationally.
Current and forthcoming tours include: Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, King
John and a production of Hamlet that is travelling to every country in the world.
Globe Player: A new online platform offering full-length HD films of over 50
Shakespeare productions at the Globe to rent or buy.
Globe On Screen: Shakespeare's Globe on Screen returns to cinemas in 2016,
bringing highlights from the 2015 theatre season to cinemas worldwide. Globe on
Screen 2016 will feature The Merchant of Venice, Richard II and Measure for Measure,
all captured in 'live' high definition. For more information contact [email protected]
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merchandise. All profits go towards supporting our educational mission.
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Globe receives no regular public subsidy.