Thursday 19 February 2015

First Night of the Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark | A Shakespearean Diary Imagined



This is an extract from a creative writing piece, written for the FutureLearn online course 'Shakespeare's Hamlet':

June 1603 


Last night I did see a play called The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. It is by that playwright William Shakespeare. I went to see it at the Globe theatre by the Thames with sister Mary and Master Forte. The Lord Chamberlains Men did quite a job – I have never seen a play like it! We ate oranges and hazelnuts as the performance went on quite late, but I had to stop eating when the scenes were dark and frightening. We did see a ghost and it was quite like seeing it right there in front of you, haunting your night! There mention of purgatory and heaven and I do think Mr Shakespeare was quite brave in saying that as I’m quite sure our dear Queen does not share those sentiments with her sister. Richard Burbage played Hamlet and was quite the handsome prince. I do like Shakespeare's plays - he made Denmark a dark place unlike Mr. Kyd could.

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