Gathenhielmska huset is the oldest building in Gothenburg. A 16th century pirate house and totally haunted, this is the perfect venue for period pieces, spooky stories, or a reanimated William Shakespeare to come and entertain the masses. Patrick Hercamp arrived accurately dressed and brimming with energy to perform a condensed version of Hamlet. It is no secret that Shakespearian English is hard to understand, but with a master’s degree in Shakespeare, Hercamp knew exactly how to perform it for us in such a way that we would not only understand the performance but enjoy it too.
Hamlet involves a cast of characters and so for a one-man show that requires wearing many hats, with each character having their own voice, personality and physicality in the space. Hercamp brought to gloomy Gothenburg evening to life with his enthusiasm and genuine passion for the subject. Hercamp knows everything there is to know about Shakespeare. He can recite original texts by heart, take us through the play of Hamlet wothout a script and taught us about the modern media we see today that has in fact been inspired by the works of Shakespeare (such as Disney’s The Lion King, which is heavily inspired by Hamlet). With plenty of opportunity for the audience to get involved, ask questions and be as much a part of the performance as Hercamphimself, the show was a great success.
I only wished there could have been one more! I was wondering what Hercamp’s version of Macbeth or The Tempest would look like. The only way to find out is to book tickets to another one of his shows! Based in the US, he is a hit at renaissance fairs as well as international Fringe Festivals. Keep an eye out for any updates, this is one you don’t want to miss!
Written by Ceri Taylor
Photography by Ikumi Maekawa
