Act III, Scene IV

Playwright and Directors: Ashkan Kheilnejad and Yousef Bapiri

Based on: Hamlet (William Shakespeare)

Overview

‘Act III, Scene IV’ delves into the dynamics of an artist couple, Setareh and Hootan, both actors who use Hamlet’s dialogues to avoid direct confrontation, channeling their emotions through the characters they play. As they immerse themselves into the complex relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude, they are forced to confront painful truths about their own unraveling relationship. The deeper they engage in this shared roleplay, the further they drift apart. In the end, Hootan’s decision to leave Setareh mirrors Hamlet's line, ``I must to England, you know that?`` – a moment where art and reality collide.

Director’s Note

How can theatre weave media into its fabric?
In our exploration, we focus on how the complexity of a relationship is shaped by the space in which it unfolds. Just as the home ceases to be a sanctuary in our couple’s marriage, Elsinore in Hamlet transforms from a private refuge into a space of deep insecurity. For instance, the queen’s bedroom – a private setting – becomes one of the play’s most public and revealing scenes.
Building on this idea, we sought to create a dynamic connection between the characters' home and the environment of the roles they play, challenging traditional stage constraints by expanding the space with media. By creating an ‘empty stage’ and projecting real images of the couple’s home, we blur the lines between theater and cinema, inviting the audience to help construct the performance’s emotional and spatial landscape. This contemporary interpretation of Hamlet and Gertrude offers the audience a closer, layered insight into the delicate relationship between Setareh and Hootan.

Venues & Dates

Cast

Impact

Production