Hamlet back after decade away

Calum Gittins stars in the Galatea production of Hamlet at the Maidment Theatre.

Galatea Theatre is bringing the first professional production of Shakespeare's
Hamlet to Auckland city in more than a decade.

The bard's brilliant dark tragedy stars Calum Gittins as Hamlet, an actor with NZ
acting pedigree.

Calum's father, award winning actor Paul Gittins, played the same role years
ago, and his mother is Lord of the Rings movie trilogy co-writer Phillipa Boyens.

Shortland St fans will recognise Calum as Jake Valentine, but Shakespeare fans
will have last seen him in King Lear, at this year's Auckland University Outdoor
Shakespeare.

Calum's movie credits include the acclaimed The King's Speech, & working
opposite Viggo Mortensen in The Two Towers.

Galatea Theatre, (Gina Timberlake & Geoff Allen), is one of the longest surviving
independent professional companies in Auckland.

Galatea combines with renowned West Auckland director and actor, John
Goudge.

The relationship was born when Goudge played Vincent Van Gogh in Galatea's
hit show, Mrs Van Gogh, which was named as one of the plays of 2012 by the
NZ Herald.

"Bringing Shakespeare to life requires passion and energy, and these guys have
got it in spades," Goudge says.

"Combine that with one of the best scripts ever known, and you've got the recipe
for something very special."

Hamlet promises to be a gritty production, with Tracey Van Lent's stark design
set in an icy North, akin to Game of Thrones.

Producer Geoff Allen is a stalwart of independent professional theatre in
Auckland, and director of the upcoming AU Summer Shakespeare in 2014.

Galatea Theatre presents:
Hamlet, by William Shakespeare,
Directed by John Goudge,
Musgrove Studio, Maidment Theatre, 3 - 12 October.
Book: 09 308 2383
www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz

Cast: Calum Gittins - Wayne Coreham - Anna Stillaman - Terry Hooper - Indigo
Paul - Alex MacDonald - Stuart Shacklock - Regan Crummer - Ian Harvey - Mike
Borgfeldt - Mark Huston - Venetia Verner - Brendan Lovell.