What Happened
Suzy Eddie Izzard has unveiled a solo adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which she portrays 23 characters, including Hamlet, Ophelia, and Gertrude. This innovative rendition condenses the original four-hour play to approximately two hours and 20 minutes, making it more accessible to audiences.
Why It Matters
Izzard, a prominent figure in the conversation around gender expression, brings her unique perspective as a gender-fluid individual to the traditionally male-dominated roles in Shakespeare’s work. Since coming out as transgender in 1985, Izzard has questioned societal norms surrounding gender, stating, “Do we have to have this crowbarring separation?” This adaptation aims to enrich the female characters Ophelia and Gertrude, who Izzard believes have been underdeveloped in the original text. She expressed her desire for more complexity in these roles, saying, “If Shakespeare was around, I’d say, ‘Will, William, Bill, you underwrote Ophelia and Gertrude. More meat on the bone, please.’”
What’s Next
With this adaptation, Izzard continues her commitment to exploring gender representation in the arts. Collaborating with her brother Mark and director Selina Cadell, she aims to honor the female figures in Hamlet while challenging conventional portrayals in theater. The adaptation is expected to resonate with audiences and provoke discussions about gender fluidity and representation in classic literature.
