The Last Hamlet: Ben Duke blends dance and Shakespeare in Paris

Hamlet can still spark a new creation? That’s the question Ben Duke asks with The Last Hamlet, on stage at the Théâtre de la Ville–Les Abbesses from September 22 to 30, 2026. Joined by Miguel Altunaga and Hannah Shepherd, the British choreographer and performer blends dance and theatre to challenge Shakespeare’s prince with his own artistic doubts.

Formed in theater before weaving dance into his work, Ben Duke isn’t here to offer a new, traditional adaptation of Hamlet. He places himself in front of the character and uses William Shakespeare’s play to interrogate the need to create, the hesitations that accompany it, and the performer’s stance facing a role that has been played countless times.

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• Best deals of the week of September 21–27, 2026 in Paris and the Île-de-France region.

Ben Duke stars as Hamlet, while Miguel Altunaga and Hannah Shepherd bring the other figures of the tragedy to life. The work thus shifts from text to movement and from comedy to tragedy, staying true to the language developed by the British artist at the crossroads of dance, theatre, and the great works of the repertoire.

The Last Hamlet also launches a Focus on Ben Duke, presented by Théâtre de la Ville, running through November 21, 2026. Several of his works are on the program during this period at the Abbesses and at Théâtre de la Ville–Sarah Bernhardt.

Eight performances of The Last Hamlet are scheduled for 8 pm between September 22 and 30, with a break on September 27. As opening night approaches, several shows are already sold out, notably on September 23, 25, 26, 29, and 30. The production is in English with French subtitles.

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