Queensland Theatre | Bernhardt/Hamlet
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BERNHARDT/HAMLET

By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Lee Lewis

TO BE, OR NOT TO BE ... THEATRE STAR SARAH BERNHARDT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE. It's Paris in 1899, and star of the stage Sarah Bernhardt has set her sights on playing Hamlet. Too old to play the ingenue and too bored to play the stale roles written for women, the diva needs a genuine c...

TO BE, OR NOT TO BE ... THEATRE STAR SARAH BERNHARDT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE.

It's Paris in 1899, and star of the stage Sarah Bernhardt has set her sights on playing Hamlet. Too old to play the ingenue and too bored to play the stale roles written for women, the diva needs a genuine crowd-pleaser to save her debt-ridden theatre. What better work than Shakespeare's finest play? And who better to take on the greatest part ever written than the greatest actress of the century?

Traditionalists are horrified — a woman playing the sacred role of the Prince of Denmark? It's at best a gimmick, and at worst an unnatural upending of the status quo. As Sarah and her players delve into what makes Hamlet tick, the whole city is watching and waiting to see whether this bold plan will be her legacy, or her folly.

A vivid real-life backstage story by American playwright Theresa Rebeck, Bernhardt/Hamlet is a fast-moving, audacious comedy about a 19th century woman issuing a challenge to the system that still resonates today.

2022 Education Pack Program

  • Dates
    [PAST EVENT] 28 MAY — 19 JUN
  • Location
    BILLE BROWN THEATRE
  • Times
    Evenings: Mon & Tue 6.30pm, Wed – Sat 7.30pm
    Matinees: Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm
  • Buy Tickets
  • Buy Season Tickets
  • Night with the Artists

    Mon 6 Jun 6.30pm

  • Duration
    Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including an interval
  • Accessibility
    Auslan Interpreted Mon 6 Jun, 6.30pm
    Audio Described Sat 18 Jun, 2.00pm
  • Play briefing

    Mon 23 May 6.00pm

  • Warning

    This play contains adult themes, a blackout, the use of herbal cigarettes and theatrical smoke.

    This play contains adult themes, a blackout, the use of herbal cigarettes and theatrical smoke.

  • Dates
    [PAST EVENT] 28 MAY — 19 JUN
  • Location
    BILLE BROWN THEATRE
  • Times
    Evenings: Mon & Tue 6.30pm, Wed – Sat 7.30pm
    Matinees: Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm
  • Buy Tickets
  • Buy Season Tickets
  • Night with the Artists

    Mon 6 Jun 6.30pm

  • Duration
    Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including an interval
  • Accessibility
    Auslan Interpreted Mon 6 Jun, 6.30pm
    Audio Described Sat 18 Jun, 2.00pm
  • Play briefing

    Mon 23 May 6.00pm

  • Warning

    This play contains adult themes, a blackout, the use of herbal cigarettes and theatrical smoke.

    This play contains adult themes, a blackout, the use of herbal cigarettes and theatrical smoke.

Creatives

Writer Theresa Rebeck
Director Lee Lewis
Set/Costume Designer Simone Romaniuk
Lighting Designer David Walters
Composer/Music Supervisor Max Lambert
Sound Designer Brady Watkins

Stage Manager Khym Scott
Assistant Stage Manager
Natalie Callaghan
Rehearsal Observation Mikayla Hosking, Bronte Locke

Cast

Sarah Bernhardt Angie Milliken
Constant Coquelin Hugh Parker
Edmond Rostand Nicholas Brown
Alphonse Mucha David Valencia
Maurice Julian Curtis
Louis Anthony Gooley
Rosamond Wendy Mocke
Lysette Amy Ingram
Raoul Gareth Davies
Francois/Worker Leon Cain
Offstage Swing Performer
Thomas Larkin
Offstage Swing Performer
Rachel Nutchey

Contributing Artists

Fight Director NJ Price

Trailer

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Sneak peek

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Play Briefing

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Ticket prices

$66 — $82
$66 — $89
$66 — $94

Group bookings of 8+ full price adult tickets receive 1 complimentary ticket per group.
† 35 & Under prices are available with official document providing birthdate (e.g. license).
* Concession prices are available with a full-time student card, Centrelink Pensioner card, Healthcare card and Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) cards.
^ Seniors prices are available with an eligible Queensland Government-issued Seniors Card, excluding Business and National Senior Cards.

Ticket Prices

Group bookings of 8+ full price adult tickets receive 1 complimentary ticket per group.
† 35 & Under prices are available with official document providing birthdate (e.g. license).
* Concession prices are available with a full-time student card, Centrelink Pensioner card, Healthcare card and Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) cards.
^ Seniors prices are available with an eligible Queensland Government-issued Seniors Card, excluding Business and National Senior Cards.

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