Hamlet, Prince of Derry to be broadcast on RTÉ

Stage Beyond, Derry’s theatre company for adults with learning disabilities, are bringing their unique skillset and perspective to the most famous play in the English language.
Hamlet, Prince of Derry, to be broadcast on RT.Hamlet, Prince of Derry, to be broadcast on RT.
Hamlet, Prince of Derry, to be broadcast on RT.

Hamlet, Prince of Derry was due to open as a stage play in May 2020.

But because of the COVID-19 crisis, the production has moved to radio, with RTÉ Drama On One teaming up with Stage Beyond to use an array of online apps to record the cast during the lockdown.

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Writer Colin Murphy (A DAY IN MAY, GUARANTEED!, INSIDE THE GPO) said: “This is a version of Hamlet written specifically for the skills of the Stage Beyond actors and set in a very contemporary Derry. Because everybody is always on their screens, it has transferred naturally to being recorded by the actors via their smartphones.."

Award-winning Northern Irish director Conall Morrison said: "We were all hugely disappointed when the lockdown happened and our work on the plays in rehearsals was paused. But getting a chance to record the play for radio has turned out to be a very exciting way of harvesting all the work the actors had done.

"The stage production will ultimately get to dust down its rapiers and fight another day, but in the meantime, it's been invigorating and exciting working with the actors as they take their first steps into the world of radio production. Initial experiments with the recordings were already sounding hugely promising, and the Stage Beyond cast are all greatly enjoying the process, adapting their acting style to suit the demands of the medium.”

The play also features the acclaimed actor Patrick O’Kane in the role of the Ghost and UTV Presenter Paul Clark as the newsreader in this contemporary version of the drama.

Drama On One

26 July 2020

8pm RTE Radio 1

rte.ie/dramaonone

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