Behind the Scenes: Hamlet
Chela De Ferrari is the founder of Teatro La Plaza, the trailblazing Peruvian company bringing a visionary reworking of Hamlet to Brighton Festival 2025.
Inspired by the famous monologue, 'To be or not to be', a remarkable cast of actors with Down syndrome breathe new life into the Shakespearian classic. The 5-star show joins us at Theatre Royal Brighton, Fri 9–Sun 11 May.
We caught up with Chela to find out more...
What inspired you to create this extraordinary adaptation of Hamlet?
I had wanted to direct Hamlet for a very long time, but I couldn’t find the right actor. That changed when I met Jaime Cruz; he had been working for over three years as an usher in our theatre, guiding people to their seats and selling programs. One day, during a staff event, he stood up and said that his real dream was to act on the stage at La Plaza.
I invited him for a coffee, and suddenly, something sparked. What would it mean to put a crown on someone like Jaime – a person society rarely sees in spaces of artistic or intellectual authority?
It became clear that this wouldn’t be a traditional production of Hamlet. It would be about weaving the themes of Shakespeare’s play – questions about identity, existence, autonomy – with the real-life experiences of a group of actors with Down syndrome. What does it mean to be when you live in a world that often doesn’t see you? That question, so central to Hamlet, became our starting point.
What should audiences expect from the show?
To be surprised. There’s humor and tenderness, but also boldness and resistance. The show doesn’t follow a traditional plot. It’s built from fragments of the original play – monologues, characters, and scenes – interwoven with the personal testimonies and interests of the actors. Each of them became a specialist in a different character, and together we constructed a new version.
For example, the famous soliloquy, ‘To be or not to be’ isn’t spoken by one Hamlet; it’s shared by many voices, creating a kind of chorus. In that space, to be or not to be is no longer just a line – it becomes a lived question, both intimate and universal.
People are often disarmed by the sincerity and unpredictability of the performances. What we usually consider “flaws” in acting – difficulty enunciating, speech impediments, pronounced stuttering, or even moments of blankness – are not hidden here; they are embraced. The result is a Hamlet that challenges us, that holds a mirror up to the audience, and that reminds us that beauty often lives in places we’ve been taught to overlook.
Hamlet is performed in Spanish (with English subtitles) – why do you think non-Spanish speakers will still love it?
Because what moves us in theater is never just language - it’s presence, rhythm, energy, truth. The actors’ energy, their connection to each other and to the audience transcends language. The subtitles are there to guide, but the essence of the play lives in the performances.
People who have seen the show around the world, regardless of the language they speak, have said they felt the words of Shakespeare in a way they never had before. There’s something in the way these actors inhabit the text that makes it feel new, immediate, and universal. So far, Hamlet has been performed with subtitles in more than seven languages, and the emotional impact is consistent.
And finally, is there anything you’re looking forward to doing while you’re in Brighton?
I want to walk down the Brighton Palace Pier with my company, eat fish and chips together on the beach, and maybe even win a ridiculous prize at the arcade!
We’ve also heard about the Royal Pavilion, Brighton’s exotic, theatrical seaside palace - that’s something we also want to see. But most of all, we’re looking forward to connecting with the Brighton audience and seeing how they respond to our work. That’s always one of the most exciting parts of touring.
‘Powerful, emotive, thought provoking and at times so poignant I was close to tears. The performance was outstanding!' audience member, Edinburgh Fringe
Supported by The Pebble Trust
