To see, or not to see?

Still popular to this day, adaptations of Hamlet have also become commonplace as producers search for innovative methods with which to draw in crowds. Some work and some definitely do not. Thankfully, Hamlet - The Clown Prince is an evolution of this enjoyable tale that is both original and entertaining.

As the curtain goes up on The Clown Prince, witness a group of blundering clowns decide to put on their own production of the play, willfully sabotaging it and misinterpreting the meaning. Watch as they find new directions when they try to understand its message, usually with hilarious consequences

Directed by Bollywood actor and director Rajat Kapoor (Dil Chahta Hai) and performed by India’s leading theatre and film artists including Dev D’s Kalki Koechlin, The Clown Prince comes to Dubai on November 9 and 10 after over 150 successful shows across the globe.

Here we speak to Rajat to find out more.

How difficult is the language for the audience? Who is the target audience for the production?

The language is not difficult at all. It moves between gibberish and Shakespearean text, but the gibberish is very expressive. There is nothing that the audience will not understand.

I don’t work with ideas of a target audience. We are making a play - we are not making a detergent. Our job is to be truthful to the play- the themes, the subject - and give our best to it. That is the approach to make the play - not thinking and speculating who might like it or not.

After directing this play for some years, what originally appealed to you about it to take it on?

I had always wanted to do Hamlet. I think every theatre person in the world is attracted to this text. The tragedy of Hamlet is very much the tragedy of modern man. Maybe that is why the play appeals more than four centuries after it was written. The dilemma of a man who knows that he must act - but cannot. This inability to act is probably the key to the longevity of the play.

What are the challenges in directing a play as opposed to a film?

They are two completely different media. The biggest problem with film is the lack of finance. You cannot think of making a film till you manage to raise a certain amount of money. That is where theatre is so delightful - you can start anytime you are with other passionate people.

As a creative process however - the two are entirely different. One is the medium where you create with actors - and other where you create with a camera.

What were the challenges for this production specifically? Are you a fan of Shakespearean updates?

Well, now we have updated Shakespeare, I am a fan. Before this I liked Footsbarn’s Romeo and Juliet very much. The biggest challenge for this production of course was that we were going to undertake Hamlet - one of the greatest tragedies ever, and perform it with clowns. How would we manage that, where would we go with it - we had no clue, but the idea seemed exciting enough to start with and here we are.

How does it feel to be heading to Dubai with this production?

Very exciting. This play has travelled a lot and everywhere we have managed to touch people a little bit and made them laugh a lot. It is very heart-warming to be in a new city with a new audience.

As an actor yourself, do you believe that makes you a more sympathetic director?

I think so. One is able to see the other side at least. I know what it is like to be out there, all naked with your insecurities, your fears, with an impending sense of failure and doom, and hope that you will be able to please your director. I have been there. I suppose it makes me a little more patient, a little more understanding.

How did you find working with the cast and crew in Hamlet?

They are beautiful people… and truly mad. The Hamlet team is one of the most fun teams I have been a part of - they are absolute clowns! Also, the fact that we have been playing this for four years now - we have all kind of grown together. Hamlet is a part of all our lives.

What future movie endeavours do you have coming up?

I am looking forward to Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children where I play Adam Aziz and Sharat Katariya’s film (an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream actually) called 10 ml Love, which will come out in December.

Besides that, there is a film that I shot this year - called Ankhon Dekhi. We are in the post-production stage right now. That should come out in the second half of next year.

david@khaleejtimes.com