Ben Duke's 'The Last Hamlet' Deconstructs Shakespeare at Avignon Festival

At the 2026 Festival d'Avignon, British director Ben Duke presents 'The Last Hamlet' at the Cloître des Célestins (July 17–24, 22:00, 1h50). Duke, founder of Lost Dog company, imagines a world where Hamlet is retired. The show opens with a radio broadcast of director Katie Mitchell arguing against staging Hamlet due to its misogyny. A giant cardboard wall serves as a set, with characters as stuffed animals (Hamlet as a lion cub from The Lion King). Duke blends theatre, dance, mime, and pop music. Performers include Miguel Altunaga (trained at Escuela Nacional de Arte de La Habana) and Hannah Shepherd (London Contemporary Dance School, National Dance Award winner). The production reflects on dwindling arts budgets and the need for imagination. Duke does not destroy Shakespeare but revitalizes him.