By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Net FDIs recorded $8.9bn in 2022, highest since 2011: Hossam Heiba at AmCham
    Net FDIs recorded $8.9bn in 2022, highest since 2011: Hossam Heiba
    March 20, 2023
    Could this be the year for Tobacco Harm Reduction?
    Could this be the year for Tobacco Harm Reduction?
    March 20, 2023
    Strong presence of Egypt’s real estate developers in MIPIM in Cannes
    Strong presence of Egypt’s real estate developers in MIPIM in Cannes
    March 20, 2023
    Raaed Developments launches ROOTS compound in New Sohag with EGP 1.8bn investment
    Raaed Developments launches ROOTS compound in New Sohag with EGP 1.8bn investment
    March 20, 2023
    Tatweer Misr signs MoU with Saudi Arabia to facilitate investment opportunities in Kingdom
    Tatweer Misr signs MoU with Saudi Arabia to facilitate investment opportunities in Kingdom
    March 20, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Xi says China will continue to play constructive role in promoting political settlement of Ukraine crisis
    Xi says China will continue to play constructive role in promoting political settlement of Ukraine crisis
    March 21, 2023
    Chinese President Xi meets Putin in Moscow
    Chinese President Xi meets Putin in Moscow
    March 21, 2023
    UN envoy says solution "closest" to end political crisis in Sudan
    UN envoy says solution “closest” to end political crisis in Sudan
    March 20, 2023
    20 years on, George W. Bush’s promise of democracy in Iraq and Middle East falls short
    March 20, 2023
    Iraq 20 years on: researchers assess how US invasion shapes lives today – podcast
    March 20, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Government should help Egyptian arts revive its pioneering role: Omar Abdel Aziz
    Government should help Egyptian arts revive its pioneering role: Omar Abdel Aziz
    March 15, 2023
    Interconnected healthcare systems in Africa require political will from North African leaders: Amref official
    Interconnected healthcare systems in Africa require political will from North African leaders: Amref official
    March 12, 2023
    EGX ready for government’s IPOs programme: Chairperson
    EGX ready for government’s IPOs programme: Chairperson
    February 15, 2023
    British International Investment invests $4.5bn in 700 businesses across Africa: Sherine Shohdy
    February 15, 2023
    Valeo has invested around €0.5bn in Egypt over the past 10 years: CEO
    Valeo has invested around €0.5bn in Egypt over the past 10 years: CEO
    December 27, 2022
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: The tragedy of Hamlet with an Egyptian twist in Al-Hanager Theatre
Share
Notification
Latest News
Xi says China will continue to play constructive role in promoting political settlement of Ukraine crisis
Xi says China will continue to play constructive role in promoting political settlement of Ukraine crisis
Politics
Chinese President Xi meets Putin in Moscow
Chinese President Xi meets Putin in Moscow
Politics World
Toyin Falola: 3 recent books that explain the work of Nigeria’s famous decolonial scholar
Culture
UN envoy says solution "closest" to end political crisis in Sudan
UN envoy says solution “closest” to end political crisis in Sudan
Politics
Net FDIs recorded $8.9bn in 2022, highest since 2011: Hossam Heiba at AmCham
Net FDIs recorded $8.9bn in 2022, highest since 2011: Hossam Heiba
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Culture > The tragedy of Hamlet with an Egyptian twist in Al-Hanager Theatre
Culture

The tragedy of Hamlet with an Egyptian twist in Al-Hanager Theatre

Rana Khaled
Last updated: 2016/03/27 at 5:59 AM
By Rana Khaled 4 Min Read
Share
SHARE

In his famous tragedy “Hamlet”, which portrayed revenge, death, greed, and betrayal, William Shakespeare raised one of the most memorable questions of all time “to be or not to be”, part of the lament by the main character Prince Hamlet. Although this tragedy was written between 1599 and 1602, it still provides a valid dramatic representation of power struggles and wars for the throne which could lead to someone committing an unforgivable crime and destroying all known moral standards.

Under the supervision of theatre director and stage choreographer Monadel Antar, the Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre troop decided to present a modern vision of Hamlet which focused on creating a connection between the historical tragedy and scenarios in our everyday lives. The modern treatment of the play by Antar won him a grant from Bibliotheca Alexandrina to help finance the production. Although the troop has turned “Mawlana” and “Al-Feel Al-Azraq” novels into theatrical performances before and won many awards, presenting a classic tragedy was a new challenge for them.

The theatrical troop (part of the stage performance) Photo by Mohammed Hemeda)
The theatrical troop (part of the stage performance)
Photo by Mohammed Hemeda)

“When I found out that Shakespeare’s writings would be the main theme of the competition organised by the Bibliotheca, I immediately thought of the plays the Merchant of Venice and Hamlet, but I preferred to work on the later tragedy because I love it more,” said Antar, the director of the play.

Transforming the original tragedy into a modern play that is consistent with modern-day life was the hardest part for Antar who spent four months writing up his interpretation.

“The challenge was rewriting Hamlet in a way that aligns the Egyptian and Arab identity. As we know, history repeats itself and the same incidents that take place in Egypt nowadays have happened many times before on the international level,” he said.

In the new treatment of the tragedy, he preferred to work in three parallel worlds: the original drama, the modern psychology science, the poem of the well-known Egyptian author Naguib Soror entitled “Crazy Thoughts from Hamlet’s Diary”.

“Although the play is performed in an informal register, it managed to preserve the essence of the original play. I presented some of the main scenes between Hamlet and his mother as they are. I also kept the main roles of the King Hamlet, Prince Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Horatio, and others,” he added.

The play was first performed on the stage of the Bibliotheca in front of an audience of 1,630. Recently, it was presented at Al-Hanager Theatre in Cairo Opera House where it also attracted a large audience.

The play includes theatre actors such as Taha Khalifa, Moustafa Abdel Hady, Abdel Aziz Mohammed, Karim Ahmed, and others.

“I know that people, with their different social classes and backgrounds, will interpret the play from their various perspectives. I don’t believe that the arts are supposed to push certain messages on to the audience; they have to let the audience make their own judgments about what they see,” he explained.

Antar is currently working on another play with Omar Al-Moataz Bellah called “Al-Galsa” that will be performed during Ramadan in Al-Hanager Theatre. “So many theatre directors working on the same project may be a new and unusual venture but I’m sure we will meet everyone’s expectations,” he added.

 

You Might Also Like

Toyin Falola: 3 recent books that explain the work of Nigeria’s famous decolonial scholar

Complete zodiac diagram discovered in Roman-era temple in Egypt’s Luxor

Kenzaburō Ōe: a writer of real humanity and the real Japan

Is Norse god Odin older than previously thought? An expert analyses new evidence

Egypt discovers statue of Great Sphinx, remains of Claudius’ cabin next to Dendera Temple

Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Prime Minister arrives to parliament to give statement
Next Article ‘Awlad Rezk’ and ‘Aswar Al Qamar’ dominate the Arab Oscars
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Xi says China will continue to play constructive role in promoting political settlement of Ukraine crisis
Xi says China will continue to play constructive role in promoting political settlement of Ukraine crisis
Politics
Chinese President Xi meets Putin in Moscow
Chinese President Xi meets Putin in Moscow
Politics World
Toyin Falola: 3 recent books that explain the work of Nigeria’s famous decolonial scholar
Culture
UN envoy says solution "closest" to end political crisis in Sudan
UN envoy says solution “closest” to end political crisis in Sudan
Politics
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?