Hamlet's beloved dad is dead, and it looks like his uncle Claudius had something to do with it. How come mum moved in with him so soon after dad's death? Was she part of the plot? And why can't his girlfriend Ophelia just chill out for a bit, instead of bugging him all the time?

Things get a little heavy after Hamlet kills Ophelia's dad by mistake, and he really starts to lose it after Ophelia drowns herself in a fit of madness. Hamlet is young, full of passion, and very very angry with his new stepdad, but not quite sure how to handle all these powerful feelings. So nobody had better get in the way of his razor-sharp sword or his equally sharp wit!

Rage, weep and laugh with Hamlet and his scheming family in this classic tale of control, infidelity, murder and intrigue set in the moulderingly gothic Helsingfor castle.

Director Steve Gagen has taken the metaphor of a game of chess and applied it to Hamlet, and set it in a world of Punks, Goths and Hippies in this very original interpretation of the world's favourite play. Hamlet will be performed at the Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, corner of Sydney Road and Glenlyon Road Brunswick – Melways Ref 29-G8. Tickets are $18 waged, $12 unwaged, Parties (more than 10) $10.

Evening Performances will take place on 6, 7, 8 & 13, 14, 15 July at 8.00 pm with a matinee on Sunday 9 July at 2.00 pm. General Bookings: 9388-1942, Info and Group Bookings 9386-0048.

• Hamlet poster
• Hamlet program
• Hamlet photos
• Hamlet script
• How old is Hamlet? An interesting discussion