There are not one, but two, very unique interpretations of Shakespeare’s great tragedy HAMLET being performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.

Sir Ian McKellen has taken the stage as Hamlet for the third time in his career but this time in a collaboration with ballet dancer and choreographer Peter Schaufuss. .  McKellan will share the role with lead dancer Johan Christiansen, with McKellen performing Hamlet’s speeches and soliloquies in collaboration with the choreography  Also performing will be Luke Schaufuss, Stefan Wise, and artists from the Edinburgh Festival Ballet Company.

The Scotsman Newspaper’s review (like all the rest) gives McKellan very high marks: “The concept of Hamlet as a ballet is enough to strike fear into the heart of theatre-lovers. Shakespeare’s masterpiece shrunk to 75 minutes, without most of the words? Even when such words as remain are to be spoken by Sir Ian McKellen, the prospect leaves one skeptical at best. McKellen’s Fringe star turn strips Hamlet to its bare bones. And, remarkably, it gets away with it,”

Venue 166
Ashton Hall, Saint Stephens Stockbridge 

Aug 7, 9-14, 16-21, 23-28

Over the other side of the City you’ll find  A TWO WOMAN HAMLET. It’s pretty much what it sounds like! Two women using nothing but their imaginations, a skull and a couple of fancy scarves bring a fast-paced, inventive and surprisingly joyful production of Hamlet to life. The Washington Post called the inaugural production in Washington DC ‘ingenious’ and ‘enjoyably antic’. 

Venue 209
Greenside @ Nicolson Square - Lime Studio
Aug 10-13, 16-20, 22-27