Ophelia Thinks Harder
By JEAN BETTS
and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
A riotous reworking of Hamlet, where Ophelia gets all the best lines
28 SEPTEMBER-2 OCTOBER 2021
Artists, scholars, poets and princes will travel the world to see me... I shall pass into myth!
A riotous reworking of Shakespeare's Hamlet - with serious themes, nevertheless. Featuring Ophelia, her maid, St Joan and a couple of locals - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
The Prince is a hazard and the new King’s a puppet. Who the hell is running Denmark? Ophelia tries to please. Ophelia fails. Ophelia thinks harder.
With guerilla feminists invading the castle, failed spells from a frustrated maid, endless direction from a wily Queen and various ignored ghosts, this is not the Hamlet you know.
Ophelia Thinks Harder is a heightened, confused and darkly-funny world, where Shakespeare meets feminism. And this time Ophelia gets all the best lines.
This show contains scenes of a violent and sexual nature.
CAST
OPHELIA | Natalie Harding-Moore
MAID | Heather Daniel
QUEEN | Danielle Capretti
ROSENCRANTZ | Emily Bates
GUILDENSTERN | Josie Teale
ST JOAN/WOMAN 3 | Freya Thomas
OPHELIA’S MOTHER / QUEEN'S MAID / PLAYER 2 | Aileen Shadbolt
HAMLET | Josh Beckman
HORATIO | Rhydian Harris
POLONIUS | David Pearson
LAERTES | Lewis McKenzie
PLAYER 1 / WOMAN2 | Paul Winterford
PLAYER 3 / WOMAN 1 / QUEEN'S MAID | Mackenzie Sumner
PLAYER 4 | Stephen Cole
CREATIVE TEAM
DIRECTOR | Matt Bentley
PRODUCER | Olly Levett
DESIGNER | Yvette Henderson
LIGHTING DESIGN | Adam Coppard
Ophelia Thinks Harder is the most grown up, clever – and very thoughtful – play I’ve seen in a long time. Full marks to Sedos for staging it with such aplomb – and under such difficult circumstances… The script is as good as anything by Stoppard.... A challengingly ambitious play for a non-professional company but this is Sedos...and it comes off very successfully.... Harding-Moore is a fine actor in a huge role who really makes you think about the plight of women at all points in history. And I’ve left Josh Beckman as Hamlet until last because he is outstanding… Definitely one to catch if you can.
Making a welcome return to the Bridewell Theatre after 18 months of postponement due to lockdown, Sedos demonstrated that there has been no loss of talent, professionalism or production value in the intervening period with Ophelia Thinks Harder
This highly entertaining production is a fine example of the extraordinarily hard work that goes into every Sedos event. A great night out!
Bridewell Theatre
From £10.50
Gala night: Friday 1 October - tickets include a drink and programme
- Tuesday 28 September 2021 7.30pm
- Wednesday 29 September 2021 7.30pm
- Thursday 30 September 2021 7.30pm
- Friday 1 October 2021 7.30pm
- Saturday 2 October 2021 2.30pm
- Saturday 2 October 2021 7.30pm
