In the corrupted currents of this world, offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice
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.
“It was so immersive and unlike any other theatre I’ve ever experienced! The full moon over the ocean! The cannon in the dungeon! It was like art, nature and history arrived simultaneously with superb acting and a classic tale to boot!”
“A great show, live theatre in an iconic setting with views across Nobby’s Beach, the breathtaking ocean, and throughout Newcastle’s historic Fort Scratchley. Every year you produce amazing live theatre outdoors. You deserve a Tourism Award for Arts & Culture!”
“I cannot stop thinking about this performance. Just so darned clever. All the world might be a stage, but Fort Scratchley has to be the most spectacular
“I feel so blessed that we have someone like you in our town putting on shows that are bold and funny and different. You layer the spaces around Newcastle with new stories. Your productions breathe life into the stories of Newcastle’s people”
Team
Director
Janie Gibson
Assistant Director
Isobel Kirk
Assistant 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
Costume Design
Elizaveta Pepelyeava
Sound Design
Ryan Wild
Stage Management
Pearl Junor
Stage Management Interns
Arden Obelia, Jacqueline Chapman, Jessica Alexander-Lillicrap, Kite Stephen & Rylee Jenkinson
Special Guest Training
Adam Deusien & Alicia Gonzalez
Training Assistant
Phoebe Turnbull
Meet The Shakespeare Ensemble
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.
