May 1 – 24, 2025
Avant Bard Theatre is thrilled to close its 35th season with a bold new interpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by the visionary Kathleen Akerley, an Avant Bard artistic associate. Known for her cerebral and innovative approach to classical texts, Akerley reimagines the iconic tragedy by delving deep into Hamlet’s grief-fueled disorientation, and examines every character not in the context of how they fail the titular hero but are failed by him. “People tell you not to make any major decisions within a year of significant loss,” Akerley observes. “So much of Hamlet stands as cautionary proof of that point. When my mother died, I thought the globe was literally spinning wrong: how could I be trusted to measure reality or take the temperature of the world and people around me – many of whom were also flailing in grief?” This Hamlet will drive to its awful conclusion with few stops for air.
Previews and Saturday Matinees are Pay-What-You-Will performances. The matinee performance on Saturday, May 17 (2:00 pm) is a Mask-Required performance.
Performance Days and Times
Thursday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. (Preview/PWYC)
Friday, May 2, 7:30 p.m. (Preview/PWYC)
Saturday, May 3, 2:00 p.m. (Preview/PWYC)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. (Preview/PWYC)
Thursday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 2:00 p.m. (PWYC)
Saturday, May 10, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 15, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17, 2:00 p.m. (PWYC/Masks Required)
Saturday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 18, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 23, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 24, 2:00 p.m. (PWYC)
Saturday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.
(PWYC = Pay What You Can)
Runtime
2 hours 25 minutes with one 10-minute intermission
Pat Yates
Thank you for the invitation to matinee performance and reception on Sunday May 4. I’m trying to figure out if a friend and I can come. How long is the play? Thanks.
Peter
I’ve inquired about this, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I get an answer.
Peter
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The runtime is 2 hours 25 minutes, with one 10-minute intermission.
Sara
2 hours 25 minutes