Hamlet in the Open Air

By Robert Iles - 7th Jun 2007

This year, Creation Theatre have abandoned Headington Park and decided to run their summer season at the Oxford Castle. More specifically, in the courtyard of the new Malmaison hotel built out of the old Oxford Gaol. Quite a glorious setting with real towers and battlements and an "in the round" stage surrounded by canvas chairs on the grass.

But did we enjoy the play? Yes we did. I would not say that this was a seminal Hamlet but it is certainly a servicable one. Somewhat Tim Burton (or Clockwork Orange!) in styling I wqas not convinced by the need for video relays, especially as they were (a) small and (b) often just showing the Elsinore screensaver(!), but they worked as "ghost". Shame the real battlements couldn't be used. Gary Shelford's Hamlet was actually a very real and ordinary person, a delightful interpretation, and the ensemble worked well together - but somehow it just missed being a great production. All praise to Portia Boorof for not shivering as Gertrude and Pepe Balderrama for his Laertes and Guildenstern (not sure about the costuming, though I loved those jackets!). Despite working in the round in the open air we could hear all the words so thanks to the actors for their hard work. In general, it was perhaps the direction that left me cold, too many styles, too much movement at times and a lack of focus. Shame.

The downsides of this venue are that it is a working hotel with some coming and going and banging of doors and you have to go to the cafes and restaurants to use the toilets. Apart from that, it is a pretty stunning setting, I only wish we could have justified staying at the Malmaison - perhaps in the House of Correction!