Actors from Whale Chorus’s 2025 Shakespeare Ensemble perform a bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece Hamlet at Newcastle’s Fort Scratchley. In this guided walking performance, you will experience curated scenes from Hamlet immersed in the unique and atmospheric locations of the Fort. 

Hamlet is a young man haunted by grief. His father, the King, is dead. His mother quickly marries his uncle. And just when he feels he may be losing his mind, the ghost of his father appears—begging him to avenge his murder. He is gripped with a crisis of conscience; should he suffer through injustice or take action and risk it all?

Enter through the great gates and travel into the locked rooms, dark tunnels and hidden corners of the Fort to discover Hamlet’s story. 14 local actors will present curated scenes in the culmination of an intensive actor training program and transform our beloved local site into the gothic coastal castle of Elsinore. This is Hamlet as you’ve never seen it before—site-specific, gripping, with an adapted retelling under the rising full moon.

Dates: Dec 5th-7th (Dec 4th preview)

Times: 4.30pm & 7pm

Running time: 70mins

Tickets: $45 (full ) $39 (conc) $25 (preview)

Location: Fort Scratchley, 1/3 Nobbys Rd, Newcastle East NSW

Audience Advice

Fort Scratchley is an atmospheric, historic coastal fort in Newcastle — expect tunnels, narrow corridors and amazing harbour views.

Please note that this is an outdoor walking performance and will go ahead in the event of light rain and wind. Please bring appropriate gear for the weather of the day including hats, sunscreen and/or raincoats.

During the performance, you will walk across uneven ground and some tunnel spaces — please wear comfortable shoes. If you have accessibility requirements, please get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Whale Chorus is thrilled to introduce the 2025 cohort of our Shakespeare Ensemble! These courageous local actors are participating in an 8-week course to build skills including acting, voice, ensemble theatre and stage combat. The course culminates this year in a
site-specific Hamlet experience, performed at Fort Scratchley

Hamlet By William Shakespeare

Director: Janie Gibson
Assistant Director: Isobel Kirk
Assistant Director and Producer: Hannah Armstrong
Cast: Phoebe Aletras, Luke Consani, Barney Donaghy, Sarah Galvano, Alan Glover, Matthew Harper, Meisha Harvie, Bianca Heffernan, Jada Laurie, Elsie Leask, Katherine McLean, Lachlan Miles, Liz Vassilacos & Kira Woods
Fight Choreography: Tim Dashwood
Costume Design: Elizaveta Pepelyeava
Sound Design: Ryan Wild
Stage Management: Luke McGilvray
With special guest training by Adam Deusien & Alicia Gonzalez