Verdict: ⭐️⭐️ (reviewed Sunday 24 August 2025).
Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is an absurdist, existential comic-tragedy based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The titular characters who appear as offsiders in Shakespeare’s play are thrown onto centre stage to witness the Hamlet plotline from their own perspective, compelling them to question their identity and agency in the narrative. Were they sent for? Can they say no?
Over the years the play has been hailed as an iconic, brilliant piece of theatre that innovatively uses all theatrical devices available; a play within a play; witty word games, philosophical discourse and much, much more. Although it’s almost impossible not to compare any stage production to the film version directed by Stoppard himself, the play’s novelty and charm continues to surprise and delight audiences thanks to its intellectually stimulating themes, sharp writing, biting sarcasm and offbeat comedic timing.
So, what went wrong here?
Not only was the theatre house pitifully empty on a Sunday matinee show, but audience members – long term supporters of Hunter’s Hill Theatre – walked out at interval and did not return, complaining to box office that the play was the ‘most dreadful one they had seen in 20 years’.
The run time is taxing – 2 hours and 45 minutes with two intervals, with Act 1 running for just over an hour.
The wordy script is not the issue – Stoppard’s play has a particular cadence and rhythm that commands a savvy director at the helm to find its comedic timing.
The committed cast are not the issue, evidently trying their best to wade through the challenging script, though key lines for inexplicable reasons were fluffed, dropped or mangled altogether, losing the momentum to land the punchlines. The cast seemed to carry a shadow of tension between them, creating a very awkward and disjointed performance.
Guildenstern (Jivan Drugilas)
The beginning of Act 2 is much more promising than Act 1, in which the character of the Player laments (without irony) that the ‘audience has left us’. Rosencrantz finds a sense of urgency and motivation in wanting to know how and why they got there. There is kindling interest in the stakes.
Act 3 gives us the finale of their doomed ending after much skirmish shenanigans aboard a ship headed for England.
The setting is a grotesque vomit-pink flooding the stage as if to suggest an anti-establishment atmosphere. The characters in Hamlet including Hamlet, Claudius, Polonius and Gertrude are conveyed only through shadow puppetry, which is intriguing yet amateurish.
Director Tui Clark at interval explained her intention was to ‘strip away’ any reference to the Elizabethan-era from which Hamlet originates, and create a fresh, modern approach of ‘these two long time companions going on a wild journey’. Clark quoted an interview from Stoppard in which he said ‘the play has not been disrespected enough’.
Drugilas)
As much as that quote can be open to interpretation, it’s doubtful that Stoppard meant ‘lazy’. If it was meant to be lazy, he wouldn’t have crafted such an intricate, thought-provoking script.
Despite poor ticket sales and audience reception, the show must go on. Hunter’s Hill Theatre are to be commended for standing by the director’s artistic vision, and at the very least, allowing us to exercise our own agency in this existential mess.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is playing at Hunter’s Hill Theatre til 14 September. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://www.huntershilltheatre.com.au/
CREDITS
CAST
KAREN PATTINSON Rosencrantz
JIVAN DRUNGILAS Guildenstern
PAULINE GARDNER The Player
NATHAN HEINRICH Musician–Tragedian / Claudius
NASH WILLIAMS Hamlet / Tragedian
MURPHY SCOTT Alfred / Polonius / Soldier
ANDREA PINNOCK Ophelia/ Gertrude
PRODUCTION TEAM
TUI CLARK Director/Set Designer
THEO HATZISTERGOS Assistant Director
WAYNE CHEE Lighting Design
PETER TUCKER Sound Design
HELEN KOLHAGEN Costumes
PAMELA PRICE Set Painting & Building
MAGGIE SCOTT Production Manager
MEG JOHNSON Stage Manager
Thank you for an honest review of the worst production I have seen ever! A breath of fresh air and truth in reporting! Keep it up!
Thank you for your comment. It really pained us to write our review as our intention is always to be as objective and supportive as possible. However in this case it was impossible not to call out the glaring flaws in this production, as patrons rely on honest reviews in order to make an informed decision. One of the cast members who read our review unfortunately lashed out at us and accused us of ‘spreading malicious gossip’. A very sorry state of affairs all round as the other productions we’ve reviewed at Hunters Hill Theatre have been of an exceptional high standard. Hopefully the next one promises to be a big improvement.