Ophelia Thinks Harder
by Jean Betts
So you think you know Hamlet?
#WitOphelia
The Prince is a hazard and the new King’s a puppet. Who the hell is running Denmark?
Ophelia tries to please. Ophelia fails. Ophelia thinks harder.
With guerilla feminists invading the castle, failed spells from a frustrated maid, endless direction from a wily Queen and various ignored ghosts, this is not the Hamlet you know.
Ophelia Thinks Harder is a heightened, confused and darkly-funny world, where Shakespeare meets feminism.
And this time Ophelia gets all the best lines.
9 to 24 November 2018 | Preview 8 November
Relaxed performance Sunday 18 November
Auslan interpreted show Thursday 22 November
7.30pm Thursday to Saturday | 3pm Sunday
$30 full | $25 concession | $15 preview
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by Sam Anderson, Sarah Clarke, Lansy Feng, Ruby Rose Lauret, Aimee Marich, Artemis Muñoz, Jennifer Piper, Leigh Scully, Matt Tester
Set Designed by Sarah Clarke & Jennifer Piper
Lighting Designed by Jennifer Piper
Sound Designed by Belinda Campbell
Costumes Designed by Georgina Hanley
Stage Managed by Valerie Dragojevic
Operated by Ellie Singe & Cian Westall
Contains sexual references, homophobia, misogyny, sexual assault, staged violence, intimate partner violence and coarse language.
Duration: approximately 120 minutes
Duration: approximately 120 minutes
The Program
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The Playwright(s)
Jean Betts
Jean is a founding member of Circa and Taki Rua Theatres, Playmarket, The Play Press (www.playpress.co.nz) and the Womens Play Press.
She started out as an actor and director and has considerable professional experience both in New Zealand and away and a long association with all of Wellington's theatres in other capacities.
She has two sons and lives in Wellington.
Jean was the 2015 recipient of the Playmarket Award, a $20,000 prize recognising a playwright who has made a significant artistic contribution to theatre in New Zealand.
William Shakespeare
Will is some dude who lived about 400 years ago, had a huge amount of patronage and support from the monarchy, and wrote a bunch of stories that feature beautiful poetry and very little personal agency for women.
Sarah Clarke as Ophelia, Leigh Scully as Hamlet and Ruby Lauret as Maid. Image: Jack Dixon-Gunn
The Director
Belinda Campbell
Belinda is an actor, writer, director and drama teacher. Trained at National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her studies have included: extensive training in Speech and Drama from Trinity College London, the Alexander Technique, screen acting, singing and dance.
In 2014 she co-founded wit incorporated, based in Melbourne's inner west. She remains our Artistic Director and, as well as performing and directing in the company, runs our children's drama program, Wit Kids.
For wit incorporated, she has directed Couch Potato, A Scandal in the Weimar and Ophelia Thinks Harder.
Her writing has been performed in Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Fringe Festival. Her plays Fairy Tale News and A Hero’s Guide to Saving the Planet have since been published by Australian Plays.
Ruby Lauret as Maid, Sarah Clarke as Ophelia and Jennifer Piper as Queen. Image: Jack Dixon-Gunn
The Artists
Aimee Marich as Rosencrantz and Lansy Feng as Guildenstern. Image: Jack Dixon-Gunn
The Company
wit incorporated is an award-winning, artist-led theatre company based in Melbourne's inner-west, creating sustainable, accessible theatre inspired by the community in which in it made.
The company was founded in 2014 by Company Manager Jennifer Piper and Artistic Director Belinda Campbell, from a desire to create a full-time professional theatre company in Melbourne’s inner-west and so foster a culture of theatre-going within the community.
We believe storytelling is at the heart of all art, and that the best theatre shows ensure the story is given priority over flashy sets and magic tricks. Because what good are the tricks if you don’t tell the story?
We favour stories that explore or examine the intersection of gender, sexuality, culture, ability and identity, and we strive for proper representation on stage and ease of access for all.
The 2017/18 company management team is Claire Bowen, Belinda Campbell, Sarah Clarke and Jennifer Piper.
Sarah Clarke as Ophelia. Image: Jack Dixon-Gunn
