World Stage to Host the World Premiere of Necessary Angel's Hamlet

The Bard's Tale of the Tragic Dane Gets an Agile and Savage Revision

TORONTO, ON (October 21, 2009) ’Äì Following the critical success of The Walworth Farce, Harbourfront Centre's World Stage is proud to host the world premiere of Necessary Angel's Hamlet. The second production of the World Stage 2009-10 performance series, Hamlet runs November 19 through November 29, 2009, at Harbourfront Centre's Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON. A full listing of evening and matinee performance times, as well as ticket prices, is included at the bottom of this release.

Necessary Angel's Hamlet combines the aesthetic of European theatre with the poetry of the British stage; what has emerged is a unique, immediate and violent 110-minute live theatre experiment seething with amorality, where nothing is set and every performance is different. The play received standing ovations during sold-out workshop performances in November 2008.

This vital, severe and sexy production features Benedict Campbell, Laura de Carteret, Mac Fyfe, Steven McCarthy, Christopher Morris, Tara Nicodemo, Robert Persichini and Eric Peterson, with Gord Rand in the title role. Hamlet is directed and designed by the acclaimed Graham McLaren, Artistic Director of Scotland's Theatre Babel and first-ever Associate Artist of Necessary Angel. Best known to Toronto audiences for his Dora Award-winning production of Medea (with Theatre Babel) that played World Stage in 2002, McLaren's highly lauded work has travelled extensively across the globe. Lighting design for Hamlet comes from the award-winning Andrea Lundy, with music and sound design from Alexander MacSween. Necessary Angel's Hamlet is slated for international touring in 2010-11.

With Hamlet, Harbourfront Centre and Toronto's own Necessary Angel Theatre Company continue a time-honoured relationship; Necessary Angel has staged Tamara, Hysterica Passio and a reading of Clout as part of World Stage in its various manifestations over the years. Founded in 1978, Necessary Angel has been an influential and original presence on the national and international theatre scene for 30 years.

New for World Stage 2009-10, visit harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage to learn about Harbourfront Centre's commitment to developing artists and audiences through World Stage initiatives and programmes, such as special events, artist talks and more.

Necessary Angel's Hamlet
Necessary Angel Theatre Company
Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
Previews: Nov. 17 ’Äì 18, 8:00 p.m.
Performances: Nov. 19 ’Äì 20, 8:00 p.m., Nov. 21, 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.,
Nov. 22, 4:00 p.m., Nov. 24 ’Äì 27, 8:00 p.m., Nov. 28, 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.,
Nov. 29, 4:00 p.m.

Tickets for Necessary Angel's Hamlet are $40 ($15 for previews). Complete information about previews, performance times, single tickets, packages and the Performance Card ($15 tickets for arts workers and students, Tues. ’Äì Thurs. performances only) is available through the Harbourfront Centre box office by phone at 416-973-4000, or harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage.

Harbourfront Centre's World Stage 2009-10 gratefully acknowledges the support of Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and Westin Harbour Castle, the official hotel of World Stage. Preview and School Visits matinee performances generously supported by BMO Financial Group.