Hamlet: the play reinvented by Kirill Serebrennikov at the Théâtre du Châtelet

Shakespeare's play Hamlet, adapted by Kirill Serebrennikov, can be seen at the Théâtre du Châtelet from October 7 to 19, 2025 in a musical, polyphonic and multilingual version.

From October 7 to 19, 2025, the Théâtre du Châtelet will host a daring new stage interpretation of Hamlet, one of the most famous tragedies in the Western repertoire by William Shakespeare. Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, a leading figure in contemporary European theater, this radical adaptation will offer a choral, multilingual approach, combining theater, music and performance in an innovative form designed for the Châtelet.

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Originally created in five acts, the play explores the major themes of death, madness, betrayal, mourning and the meaning of existence. In this version, Hamlet would not be played by a single actor, but by several figures sharing the role in different languages (English, French, German, Russian), as if to better reflect the character's inner fragmentation and the universal scope of his questioning.

Conceived as musical theater, Hamlet would unfold in ten ten-minute tableaux, combining text and music in a variety of formats. The Ensemble Intercontemporain, conducted by Pierre Bleuse or Yalda Zamani, would perform an original score by Blaise Ubaldini, written for a large ensemble and conceived as an integral component of the drama.

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This Hamlet would appeal to audiences familiar with Shakespeare's text, as well as those curious about experimental theatrical forms. The crossover between linguistic polyphony, contemporary composition and fragmented aesthetics could appeal to an audience adept at innovative scenic proposals, while fans of a more linear or classical reading might be baffled by the device.

This article is based on information available about the show. It is not based on direct viewing.

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