Shakespeare Festival at Hamlets Castle 2014

Press release HamletScenen presents

HamletScenen bids all cosmopolitans welcome at Kronborg Castle

Experience magical summer evenings when the castle courtyard once again buzzes with international atmosphere this August. You are guaranteed world-class theatre when sublime actors vivaciously tread on stage. Exclusive entertainment with intimacy and intensity. Become a part of the special Kronborg atmosphere when intrigue, forbidden love, vanity, power, humour, hatred, revenge and provocations fill the castle courtyard. Shakespeare's Globe, Stockholm MusikTeater, Peter Brook’s blockbuster King Lear, and Shakespeare in Concert can be experienced by audiences this year at the Shakespeare Festival at Hamlet's Castle from August 1-10, 2014.

The festival opens with Shakespeare's Globe from London with their sparkling new production of Much Ado About Nothing. Everything is looking well for Hero and Claudio, who are to be married in a week. The lovers attempt to encourage the budding love between Benedick and Beatrice. However, the evil Don John is lurking in the background, planning to accuse Hero of infidelity. The intricacies and confusions quickly multiply and a chaotic jumble of theatrical games hastily plays out. Discover a string of England's best actors as they play, sing and dance in the courtyard, bringing life to one of the world’s most beloved popular comedies.

Stockholm’s MusikTeater appear on stage with their humorous tour de force musical, "William” – an award-winner at the New York Fringe Festival in 2013. William Shakespeare is 28 and word has just started to spread about this playwright in London, who is quickly evolving from a mediocre writer to a literary genius. Taking its starting point in the year 1592, the performance tries to find the answer to a 400-year-old mystery - who was William Shakespeare? A fantastic musical performance that reveals much about Shakespeare and his time, delving into the famous 154 sonnets, written with his unbridled lust for life, his humour, passion for love, budding insanity, impotence and jealousy. Experience the talented Swedish actor and singer Jonas Nerbe in the company of a female string quartet consisting of two violins, one viola and a cello. Together, they brilliantly tell the tale of the world's most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. 1

This year's Open Air Cinema offers an exclusive showing of King Lear from 1971, filmed by the legendary British director Peter Brook. An exciting Danish/English film collaboration, starring among others the Danish actors Anne- Lise Gabold and Søren Jensen Elung. The title role was played by the Oscar-winning British character actor Paul Scofield. Filming took place in Råbjerg Mile in northern Jutland. The film is presented in collaboration with CINEMATEKET/Danish Film Institute and CPH PIX.

As a new initiative, Shakespeare in Concert is presented as a festive and musical conclusion to this year's festival. Frans Rasmussen will direct an explosive concert experience accompanied by the two fantastic singers, Signe Schreiber and Søren Launbjerg, who sing famous songs and sections from a classical and contemporary repertoire. Christian Eugen-Olsen is the master of ceremonies, and Greve Harmony Orchestra will accompany in musical collaboration with St. Olav Vocal Ensemble. During the concert, the audience will have the opportunity to sing along when stage and bandstand melt together in incredible collective song. The Castle Concert is presented in collaboration with Dansk Folkehjælp.

In Hamlet's footsteps

Hear about Hamlet "on location" on the Hamlet guided tours, every day – all year round, in the opening hours at Kronborg Castle.

Facts

Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare's Globe - London Organiser: HamletScenen - www.hamletscenen.dk Production: Shakespeare's Globe www.shakespearesglobe.com Director: Max Webster Dates: August 1, 2, 3, 4, at 20:00 Duration: Approx. 3 hours including break The show is performed in English with Danish subtitles

William Stockholm MusikTeater Organiser: HamletScenen - www.hamletscenen.dk Production: Stockholm Music Theatre www.stockholmsmusikteater.nu Director: Andreas Boonstra Dates: August 6 & 7, at 20:00 Duration: Approx. 2 hours and 15 minutes including break The show is performed in English with Danish subtitles

King Lear – 1971 film version Organiser: HamletScenen - www.hamletscenen.dk In collaboration with CPH PIX and Cinematheque Production: Athena Film Director: Peter Brook 2

Format: 35 mm, wide screen b/w Date: August 9, at 21:00 Duration: approx. 2 hours and 15 minutes without break The film is shown in English with Danish subtitles

Shakespeare in Concert Production: HamletScenen - www.hamletscenen.dk In collaboration with the Danish Folkehjælp Conductor: Frans Rasmussen Date: August 10, at 20:00 Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, without a break The concert is in Danish

Organiser: Performances, film and concert are presented at Kronborg Castle - Castle Courtyard - 3000 Elsinore Tickets: www.teaterbilletter.dk www.hamletscenen.dk and billetten: +45 7020 2096 Further information: www.hamletscenen.dk Visit Hamlet's castle. Open from June to August, 10:00-17.30, from September to May, Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00- 16:00. www.kronborg.dk or +45 4921 3078

Kind regards

Dorthe Tronier PR. HamletScenen Mobil: +45 2613 2862 Mail: [email protected] www.hamletscenen.dk