Actors from the Shanghai Peking Opera House perform "The Revenge of the Prince," the Peking Opera version of William Shakespears's "Hamlet," in Denmark last August.

Shanghai Daily news

Shakespeare's "Hamlet" has a complete overhaul for its performance as a Peking Opera including a shift in location from Denmark to ancient China, Xu Wei reports.
Among all the stage productions on the program of the ongoing Shanghai International Arts Festival, the Peking Opera version of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" - entitled "The Revenge of the Prince" - is probably the highlight.
At the invitation of "Hamlet Sommer," an organization that sponsors cultural events in Denmark, the Peking Opera production was first seen over five nights last August in its original Shakespearean setting - the Kronborg Castle in Helsingor.
"Though the Hamlet story in various forms has been presented around the world many times, the creativity of the Peking Opera version won for itself high praise in Denmark, Hamlet's homeland," says Sun Chongliang, director of the Shanghai Peking Opera House.
"The Revenge of the Prince" (with English subtitles) offers a brand-new portrait of the conflicted Danish prince, and the Shanghai Peking Opera House has also made some adjustments in terms of setting, direction and performance.
Director Shi Yukun, well known for his modern Peking Opera play "Camel Xiangzi," sets the story in a kingdom in ancient China and the "prince," the "queen" and the "prime minister" all have their corresponding Chinese names - "Zi Dan," "Jiang Rong" and "Yong Shu."
Shakespeare's classic soliloquies - including "To be or not to be: that is the question" - have been adapted and are sung in Peking Opera style. But stretches of dialogue have been shortened or cut to give the actors more time for singing, dancing, acrobatics and martial arts.
"All the actors are under 25," says Shi. "And the play has more simple but still impressive sets. By adding four folding screens and five chairs, the Peking Opera version of 'Hamlet' is able to create the palace, the fortress and the graveyard."
However, the key tragic elements of the original work remain from the moment when the young prince learns of the murder of his beloved father till his final revenge on his murderous uncle Claudius.
Peking Opera has its own language to tell this alien story utilizing the full spectrum of the opera form's skills and role playing.
For example, the facial make-up in Peking Opera helps to distinguish different roles and their positions and moral qualities. Claudius (Yong Shu) will put on a clown mask to show his identity as a villain.

Date: November 14, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Drama Arts Theater, 288 Anfu Rd
Tickets: 80-220 yuan
Tel: 6467-2100
With English subtitles