Hamlet Adaptations – Stage and Screen
STAGE
Thomas Moscow Art Modern
The Globe Betterton Parsi Theatre Theatre Adaptations
1600–1601 1661–1709 1850s 1912 21st century
1607 1775–1805 1903 Early 20th century
The Dragon Sarah Siddons Japanese Polish and Czech
(ship) performance Adaptations
The globe theatre (1600-1601)
• Hamlet was first performed at the Globe by the Lord Chamberlain’s men.
• It was one of the most widely performed plays during Shakespeare’s lifetime.
• It was also eventually performed before both King James and King Charles.
The dragon Ship (1607)
• It was performed in 1607 on board the ship The Dragon when it could not sail:
• In order to 'my people from idleness and unlawful games, or sleep', according to the
Captain.
• ‘We had the Tragedy of Hamlet: and in the afternoon we went altogether ashore, to
see if we could shoot an elephant.’
Thomas Betterton (1661 – 1709)
• Thomas Betterton was in his mid twenties when he first played Hamlet in 1661 and
he held on to the role for the next half-century.
• According to contemporary accounts, he continued to persuade audiences that he
was a 'young man of great expectation, vivacity and enterprise' even when he was
74
• Hamlet was played by Thomas Betterton, for half a century: he continued to
persuade audiences that he was a 'young man of great expectation, vivacity and
enterprise' aged 74.
• It became the first of Shakespeare's plays to be presented with movable flats painted
with generic scenery
• However, this actually hindered the performance by making obvious Shakespeare’s
frequent location changes, which were later criticised.
STAGE
Thomas Moscow Art Modern
The Globe Betterton Parsi Theatre Theatre Adaptations
1600–1601 1661–1709 1850s 1912 21st century
1607 1775–1805 1903 Early 20th century
The Dragon Sarah Siddons Japanese Polish and Czech
(ship) performance Adaptations
The globe theatre (1600-1601)
• Hamlet was first performed at the Globe by the Lord Chamberlain’s men.
• It was one of the most widely performed plays during Shakespeare’s lifetime.
• It was also eventually performed before both King James and King Charles.
The dragon Ship (1607)
• It was performed in 1607 on board the ship The Dragon when it could not sail:
• In order to 'my people from idleness and unlawful games, or sleep', according to the
Captain.
• ‘We had the Tragedy of Hamlet: and in the afternoon we went altogether ashore, to
see if we could shoot an elephant.’
Thomas Betterton (1661 – 1709)
• Thomas Betterton was in his mid twenties when he first played Hamlet in 1661 and
he held on to the role for the next half-century.
• According to contemporary accounts, he continued to persuade audiences that he
was a 'young man of great expectation, vivacity and enterprise' even when he was
74
• Hamlet was played by Thomas Betterton, for half a century: he continued to
persuade audiences that he was a 'young man of great expectation, vivacity and
enterprise' aged 74.
• It became the first of Shakespeare's plays to be presented with movable flats painted
with generic scenery
• However, this actually hindered the performance by making obvious Shakespeare’s
frequent location changes, which were later criticised.
