Hamlet. Mikhail Chekhov’s Riga Russian Theater performance / Recording / REplay.lv

On the last evening of the “Teātris.zip” spring season, with the support of the Boris and Ināras Teterev Foundation, we are showing a play that is special just because it is completely fresh. Its premiere was only a year ago, and it is still actively performed at Mikhail Chekhov’s Riga Russian Theater, and was also nominated for four “Players’ Night” awards. It is a production of William Shakespeare’s iconic play “Hamlet” directed by Viesturs Kairis. The theater has called it a wartime chronicle, and it is quite clear what the war is about – it is the war in Ukraine caused by Russia.

Hamlet’s murderous, power-hungry uncle has been transformed from Claudius into Claudine and looks just like Putin in Alexander Malikov’s portrayal. Maxim Bussel’s intelligent Hamlet has to deal with wartime power players and the betrayal of his mother Gertrude, who behaves just like the Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva, in the dug-out bunker of power, set up by scenographer Ieva Jurjāne.

Theater critic Līga Ulberte: “Maxim Bussel is currently in the perfect moment to play Hamlet. Because of his age, talent, charisma, professional ability and public interest. [..] Maxim Bussel’s Hamlet is a restrained, ironic, black-clad thirty-year-old who, without particularly analyzing, has used the benefits of being born into the tsar’s family – he has received a good education, seen the world and successfully pretended not to notice what was happening in his kingdom. But a new war (perhaps the first in this Hamlet’s life) nevertheless forces one to make a decision and act.”