The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Perfect pairing for a timeless classic

Two of Canada’s foremost dance and theatre creators team up to tackle the tale of one of classical literature’s most emotionally complex protagonists. Choreographer Guillaume Côté and stage director Robert Lepage’s reimagination of Shakespeare’s Hamlet employs the language of movement and music to portray the play’s pivotal moments and universal struggles. Performed by nine dancers, including Côté in the leading role, the production immerses the viewer into a metaphorical world of betrayal and trickery, one where ghosts and humans coexist. This virtuosic dance dramatization imparts an entirely new dimension to Hamlet’s melancholy and inner conflict, offering access to a wide range of audiences.

Expanding on their shared love for Shakespeare and the triumph of their previous collaboration (Frame by Frame), Côté and Lepage’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is an evocative retelling. The artists’ respective and singular talents for refined athleticism and poetic theatricality beautifully coalesce with the dramatic score by composer John Gzowski. Inventive set and lighting design use light and shadows to propel the tragic narrative. Ophelia’s drowning scene, for one, is simply astonishing.

Did You Know?
In addition to Guillaume Côté’s career as Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada (retired in 2025), he is artistic director of Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, and of his own company Côté Danse.

Interesting Fact:
In 2011, NAC Dance presented Eonnagata, conceived and performed by Robert Lepage, dancer Sylvie Guillem and choreographer Russell Maliphant, with costumes by Alexander McQueen.