A Two Woman Hamlet

Think Hamlet has to be miserable? Well think again – and think fast! Shakespeare’s tragedy is reenacted in one hour by – you guessed it! – two women, in a provocative, funny and surprisingly moving theatrical event.

This insightful yet unpretentious adaptation has joys in it for Shakespeare super-fans and those who are new to the story. With a twinkle in its eye, A Two Woman Hamlet decenters the “hero” to fully explore the relationships between characters and the themes behind the play: unrequited love, grief, toxic masculinity, and the way mums think you still hang out with those irritating friends you left behind in eighth grade.

With the actors able to play both tracks, A Two Woman Hamlet is truly a different show every night! It’s fun, fierce, and decidedly feminist.

Based on an original concept by Mara Sherman, Hannah Sweet and Nicola Collett.

Directed by Nora J. Williams

Movement Director – Marina Cusí

Performers – Sharmila Peake, Deanna Strasse, Lolly Taylor

From our reviews

‘A refreshing and audacious reimagining of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy…Inventive, committed, and unafraid to challenge convention’ Colchester Gazette

‘Hamlet is brought to life by two extraordinary women (and the occasional glove puppet) in an energetic and inventive production…A joy to watch’ Keep Colchester Cool

‘Fun, fast-paced, and fearlessly cut down…A quick-change Hamlet that’s clever, funny, and refreshingly human’ A Young(ish) Perspective

‘I was in awe of the actors’ skill, energy and sheer ability…Fantastic, nuanced performances…It was over too quickly!’ Wivenhoe News

Woe & Wonder Productions

Woe & Wonder Productions is a merger of ambitious, female-led fringe theatre companies, founded on the principle of transforming limitation into opportunity. It is a theatre company for leading women.

We are dedicated to putting women first: providing new platforms for female playwrights, giving fresh insights to classic works through a female lens, and ensuring women take main roles, both on and off stage.

Born from the teams behind the UK touring production of A Two Woman Hamlet and Dead Doves and Lemons OR Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Fan Fiction (but were too afraid to ask), our mission is to elevate bold, innovative storytelling rooted in joy, discovery, and unwavering mutual support.

We aim to challenge the confines of the patriarchy not just through performance, but also through comprehensive educational outreach, including workshops in acting, play development, and theatre history, creating a sustained ecosystem where women’s artistic capabilities are fully realised and celebrated.

Woe & Wonder is based in the historic Roman city of Colchester, England.

• Death
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• Femicide
• Mental illness
• Parental loss
• Sexual violence
• Suicide
• General violence
• Misogynistic language