Ex Machina + Côté Danse

Dear audience,

Tonight, we have the privilege of witnessing a work born from the meeting of two exceptional creators: Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté. One is a master of imagery and staging, the other, an outstanding choreographer and performer. Together, they join forces to take on a bold challenge: telling the story of Hamlet without words!

Adapting Shakespeare to dance is no small feat. But with Robert Lepage’s creative originality, Guillaume Côté’s powerful artistry, and a remarkable artistic team, you are sure to experience Hamlet like never before. Tonight, on stage, nine performers will demonstrate that the body alone can become a rich, expressive narrative language.

A warm thank you for sharing this moment with us.

We wish you a wonderful show!

Pierre Des Marais — Artistic and Executive Director, Danse Danse.

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Territorial Acknowledgement

Danse Danse acknowledges that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka Nation. We honour the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on the Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) territory, which has long served as a meeting place for exchanges between nations. With respect for the links to the past, present and future, we thank the Indigenous peoples for reminding us of the importance of living in harmony with ourselves, with each other and with nature, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present works of living art at Tiohtiá:ke.

In the beginning were the words and the words became flesh.

Hamlet is undoubtedly the longest and deepest play in the Shakespearean repertoire. But when we strip away the words, the skeleton still remains and the meaning doesn’t disappear. We note with astonishment how the work exists beyond the literary.

Dance generates breath, energy, and gestures that can reveal hidden meanings concealed by the lyricism of the text. Dance gives the characters bodies, muscles, flesh.

Our show brings together artists from different dance backgrounds. It is therefore composed of classical, contemporary and even street-dance inspired lines, which replace the language levels usually characteristic of social classes.

Through the body, the work is embodied, literally. It becomes three-dimensional, magnifying passion, violence, sensuality and is able to tell the story of this brilliant reflection on existence and the vagaries of indecision in a remarkable way.

Enjoy the show!

Robert Lepage – Creator and Stage Director | Artistic Director, Ex Machina.

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Welcome to our presentation of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

As we breathe life into Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece through the language of dance, we invite you to immerse yourself in the profound themes and enduring relevance of Hamlet in our contemporary world. Our journey in crafting this performance has led us to discover the universal struggles of power dynamics, betrayal, and inner conflict that still resonate deeply in today's society. Just as Hamlet wrestles with the complexities of justice, loyalty, and truth, we too confront similar dilemmas as we navigate the intricacies of our relationships, obligations, and moral decisions in the modern age.

Your presence among us tonight serves as a testament to the enduring impact of art in stimulating thought, eliciting emotions, and igniting dialogues. We hope our interpretation strikes a chord within you, prompting introspection and a newfound appreciation for the richness and complexity of this classic narrative.

I am immensely grateful for the exceptional cast, crew, and collaborators who have poured their hearts and souls into bringing this vision to fruition. Their dedication and talent have truly been the cornerstone of this production. 

Thank you once again for embarking on this artistic voyage with us.

With heartfelt gratitude and admiration,

Guillaume Côté – Creator and dancer | Artistic Director, Côté danse.

Hamlet, Prince du Danemark

Hamlet is in a dark place. Full of doubt, and perhaps touched by madness. After the death of his father under questionable circumstances, he loses his footing... Is his entourage lying to him? Is his mind, muddled with apparitions, failing? When reason wavers, how can we distinguish between truth and falsehood, how can we distinguish between the faithful and the traitors?

Co-created by choreographer Guillaume Côté and director Robert Lepage, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark immerses the viewer in a world of deceptive appearances, where ghosts and humans rub shoulders in a minimalist scenography. Light, shadows and transparency play a central role. This metaphorical reinterpretation of Shakespeare's narrative draws the fine line between what is and what is not in the vagaries of the mind and the movements of the body.

Hamlet, Prince du Danemark

Designed and Directed by Robert Lepage.

Co-designed and Choreographed by Guillaume Côté.

Based on the work of William Shakespeare.

Dancers Guillaume Côté, Greta Hodgkinson, Natasha Poon Woo, Michel Faigaux, Carleen Zouboules, Lukas Malkowski, Robert Glumbek, Connor Mitton, Willem Sadler.

Original music John Gzowski.

Lights Simon Rossiter.

Costumes Michael Gianfrancesco, Monika Onoszko.

Co-design of scenography and accessories Vanessa Cadrin.

Creative director Steve Blanchet.

Creative assistant and rehearsal director Anisa Tejpar.

Assistant director Félix Dagenais.

Production manager Nadia Bellefeuille.

Technical Director Antoine Caron.

TECHNICAL TEAM

Stage manager Francis Beaulieu.

Sound and video manager Stanislas Elie.

Lighting director Billy Bergeron.

Head stagehand Jérôme Dion.

Costume and accessories Jeanne Lapierre.

PRODUCTION

Produced by Ex Machina/Côté Danse/Dvoretsky Productions.

In coproduction with the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and “Marin Sorescu” National Theatre and Shakespeare Foundation.

Developed in collaboration withthe National Creation Fund at Canada's National Arts Centre.

This production was developed with the support of TO Live.

Producer - Ex Machina Michel Bernatchez.

Associate Producer - Ex Machina Hélène Paradis.

Producer - Côté Danse Etienne Lavigne.

Founding Executive Producer - Côté Danse Emmanuelle Gattuso.

Producer - Dvoretsky Productions Svetlana Dvoretsky.

Associate Production, Europe, Japan Epidemic (Richard Castelli assisted by Florence Berthaud).

Associate Production, Americas, Asia (except Japan), Australia, New Zealand Menno Plukker Theatre Agent (Menno Plukker, assisted by Magdalena Marszalek and Isaïe Richard ).