A magical experience of theatre for the audience

If HALLOWE'EN has brought thoughts of witches in its wake, then you might like to make your way to Second Age Theatre Company's production of Hamlet. Directed by Joyce Branagh, the production marks the 10th anniversary of Second Age Theatre Company which was founded in 1989. Hamlet must be something of a family fetish, as her brother, Kenneth, directed a film version in 1996.

Joyce Branagh has a string of professional directing credits to her name. Most of her work was produced in London, with Handbags and Woyzeck touring the Dublin Fringe Festival. Second Age aims to "create a direct, challenging and magical experience of theatre for the audience".

Director Bryan O'Donoghue says that playing on three or four sides in a studio space creates a special relationship with the performers and the work. "As little as four feet from the actors and dramatic intrigue, the audience become participants, energising the intimacy and immediacy of the action, at times drawing out performances of immense subtlety and depth." He says that for many in the audience the presentation itself is a new experience.

The company is committed to "the primacy of the artist" in his or her work, according to O'Donoghue. The cast includes Anthony Kernan, Michael Grennell Angela Harding, Mal Whyte, Robert Price, Jennifer Barry, Aiden Condron, Russell Smith, Ciaran Patrick Reilly, Jack Walsh, Julie Timoney, Gerry Walsh, John Lovett, Aiden Grennell and Sean McDonagh.

This latest version of the 500-year-old play opens in the Tivoli Theatre, in Dublin on Thursday, November 4th, with previews from November 1st. As one of Shakespeare's greats, this play should interest all second-level students taking English but will be of particular use to those in fifth-year as Hamlet will be examined in Leaving Certificate English in 2001.