Dedicated to Suzana Bačić (1962–2023), ballerina and ballet mistress of the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most renowned and most frequently performed work, has intrigued and inspired artists around the world for more than four centuries. The story of a son unable to come to terms with his father’s sudden death, a son to whom the ghost of the murdered father reveals the identity of his killer, continues to captivate audiences of all generations.
With its brilliantly constructed plot and multiple parallel actions, Hamlet has long transcended its titular character to become a symbol of the human condition itself—uniting love and doubt, joy and despair, wit and bitterness, intelligence and naïveté, courage and duplicity; in short, all the qualities that define humankind.
With its multitude of characters, intricate intrigues, parallel narratives, and layered plotlines, Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire artists of diverse expressive forms, offering countless possibilities for interpretation—including this ballet adaptation.
This is a large-scale ensemble production in which the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb presents another classical masterpiece in a new way. With this work, choreographer Leo Mujić continues his series of highly successful ballets inspired by great works of literature.
In 2023, the production Hamlet received several Croatian Theatre Awards, including the Award for Best Production, the Award for Ballet Choreography, which was presented to Leo Mujić, and the Award for Best Artistic Achievement – Male Role, presented to Guilherme Gameiro Alves for his role as Claudius. In the 2023/2024 season, Rieka Suzuki Sumitomo received the “Ana Roje” Award for her role as Ophelia, while Takuya Sumitomo received the “Oskar Harmoš” Award for the title role.
