Unitec Department of Performing and Screen Arts presents its 2013 Shakespeare Season. Our third year acting class has been divided into two cohorts. Under the direction of Benjamin Henson and Jacque Drew, the actors bring to the stage two contemporized versions of Shakespearean classics; HAMLETand THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Produced and staged by Unitec's equally talented Production, Design and Management students, the Unitec Shakespeare season is not to be missed!

HAMLET
Directed by Benjamin Henson
Hamlet's dad is dead. It's all bad news for him.
But if this wasn't bad enough already, his mum has married his uncle, they've cancelled his University course and his girlfriend is ignoring him. His silent protest in wearing black to the wedding isn't going down very well, and melancholy Hamlet starts to fade into the background, until his best mate comes in with the news he never expected to hear - his dad is back from the grave. And he isn't happy.
Hamlet has been, and continues to be, the most famous drama in the English language. Vividly portraying both true and feigned madness, the play explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption. This reduced, contemporary, adaptation explores the play's core - a family in crisis.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Directed by Jacqui Drew
Confusion. Chaos. Comedy.
Antipholus and his servant Dromio are well known residents of the town of Ephesus. But another Antipholus and his servant Dromio have just arrived, from Syracuse...
Two sets of twins - separated at birth - come together in the same city. Shakespeare puts his signature spin on a classical comedy structure, setting the stage for a myriad of mishaps, mistaken identities and general madness. Watch the snowball of circumstances roll through Ephesus and grow to epic comic proportions.

Join Unitec's Year 3 acting students as they combine elements of commedia dell'arte, clowning and slapstick with a healthy heaping of confusion and chaos to serve up a superb Shakespearean comedy souffle!