Shakespeare's most important model for his Hamlet comes from the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus. The Hinterlandbühne, located not far from a scene from Saxo's story, juxtaposes scenes from "Hamlet" with the story "Amletus".
In the Gesta Danorum (Deeds of the Danes), the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus (ca. 1150-1220) collected myths and traditions from prehistoric times and reported on the military campaigns of Bishop Absalon of Lund, whom he also accompanied during the conquest and Christianization of Rügen in 1168. With his detailed report, we have one of the first written records of Rügen's history before the Christian era. He also described the handover of Charenza Castle, which took place within sight of Schweikvitz.
His monumental work "Gesta Danorum" provided Shakespeare with the most important model for "Hamlet".
Shakespeare takes up many of the motifs that appear in Saxo's work and develops them further. The regicide committed by his uncle against Hamlet's father, the marriage and thus the "blood libel" between the uncle and Hamlet's mother, Hamlet going mad, the deportation to England and the return and revenge.
Shakespeare's "Hamlet" becomes a play about a tottering state, under pressure from foreign policy, internally rotten with intrigue, lace, murder and madness. Again and again, he also uses comedy in this tragedy, turning the bloodbath into an "amusing" affair.
Our "Hamlet - Amletus" is musically supported by Bernard Bonnet, who is also working on the music with the ensemble for the version in the park.
