Hamlet at Fort Scratchley

"In the corrupted currents of this world
Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice"

Actors from Whale Chorus's 2025 Shakespeare Ensemble perform a bold reimagining of Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece Hamlet at Newcastle's Fort Scratchley. In this guided walking performance, you will experience curated scenes from Hamlet immersed in the unique and atmospheric locations of the Fort.

Hamlet is a young man haunted by grief. His father, the King, is dead. His mother quickly marries his uncle. And just when he feels he may be losing his mind, the ghost of his father appears—begging him to avenge his murder. He is gripped with a crisis of conscience; should he suffer through injustice or take action and risk it all?

Enter through the great gates and travel into the locked rooms, dark tunnels and hidden corners of the Fort to discover Hamlet's story. 14 local actors will present curated scenes in the culmination of an intensive actor training program and transform our beloved local site into the gothic coastal castle of Elsinore. This is Hamlet as you've never seen it before—site-specific, gripping, with an adapted retelling under the rising full moon.

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Accessibility Information

• Disabled access available, contact operator for details.