Hamlet at Kronborg
Hamlet at Kronborg in brief - Hamlet's tragic fate unfolds at the castle
Over 400 years ago, William Shakespeare wrote the world's most performed drama, Hamlet. It is the story of the Danish prince Hamlet and his tragic fate. The inspiration for the tragedy came from the Danish legendary hero Amled and the magnificent castle of Kronborg.
First performance of Hamlet at Kronborg
Amateur theatre-goers performed Hamlet for the first time at Kronborg in 1816 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. A hundred years later, the Royal Theatre in the Palace Gardens staged the next production. But it wasn't until 1937 that it became a regular event. The drama has attracted big international names to the cast list. Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, John Gieldgud, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Simon Russel Beale and Jude Law have performed the drama at Kronborg Palace. Today, HamletScenen raises the theatre heritage at Kronborg Castle.
Shakespeare hears of of Kronborg Castle
Shakespeare did not visit the castle himself, but he undoubtedly heard stories about the famous castle. Some of his actors had performed for King Frederick II at Kronborg Castle, and they could talk about the impressive castle and the great feasts. Kronborg is a subject of gossip in Europe, so the playwright may have picked up the latest rumors from the castle. Perhaps from the two Danish noblemen Frederik Rosencrantz and Knud Guildenstern. They were in England in 1595 and may have met the playwright. In any case, Shakespeare used their family names in his play. In 1601, Hamlet was performed for the first time at the Globe Theatre in England, and the halls, corridors and windswept bastion of Kronborg are today theatrical history.
From Amled in Jutland to Hamlet at Kronborg Castle
The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus tells in his Danish Chronicle from the late 11th century about the Jutlandic chieftain's son, Amled, which has several similarities with Shakespeare's later version. Shakespeare is inspired by the story but chooses to move the prince's fate to Kronborg Castle in Elsinore. The town is a cultural hub with court life around the exclusive castle and is known by foreign sailors who anchor to pay the lucrative Øresund toll to the king.
The story of Hamlet - Hamlet's tragic fate in brief
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, has his nose buried in his studies in Germany. Suddenly he is torn away from his books when he learns that his father, the king, is dead. He returns to his childhood home, Kronborg Castle, where he is horrified to discover that his mother, Queen Gertrude, has married her uncle Claudius. Not only that, but Claudius is firmly on the throne. Hamlet is in shock. But it gets much worse; for one night Hamlet meets his father's ghost, who tells him that his father was murdered by Claudius.
The kingslayer reveals himself
Hamlet plots revenge, but to buy time he pretends to have gone mad. Even for his beloved Ophelia, he must keep his mask on and pretend to be insane. Ophelia becomes more and more maddened by the unpredictable, mischievous and haughty Hamlet.
To expose the murderous uncle, Hamlet hires some actors to perform a play about the regicide. Claudius attends the performance and reveals his guilt when he shouts and rushes out of the hall. Later, his uncle tries to murder Hamlet, but Hamlet is cunning and escapes.
Polonius dies
Polonius, the king's adviser and Ophelia's father, seeks out Gertrude to discuss the mad Hamlet. Gertrude summons Hamlet and Polonius hides behind a curtain. Hamlet is furious with his mother for marrying Claudius. Things are stirring behind the curtain. Hamlet thinks it is Claudius who has been hiding. He grabs his knife and drives it into the curtain. Polonius drops dead.
Hamlet's beloved dies of grief
Together with his best friend and only confidant, Horatio, Hamlet meets a gravedigger in the cemetery outside the castle. A skull is dug up, Hamlet grabs it and philosophises about the transience of life. A funeral procession arrives and Hamlet discovers that the grave is for his beloved Ophelia. In her grief over the suddenly insane Hamlet, she has taken her own life by drowning herself in the river.
The hour of vengeance
Ophelia's brother, Laertes, blames Hamlet for the deaths of his sister and father Polonius, and he seeks to avenge them both in a sword fight with Hamlet. In a conspiracy with Claudius, Laertes puts poison on his sword, but during the duel the swords are switched and both Laertes and Hamlet are struck by the poison. At the same time, the Queen has drunk from a glass of poisoned wine that Claudius has intended for Hamlet. When Hamlet sees his mother die and learns that he himself is poisoned, he kills Claudius.
At the same moment, the Norwegian Prince Fortinbras arrives with his army and is handed the Danish throne. All the main characters in the play are dead, except Horatio. Shortly before Hamlet exhales, he asks his friend to tell the story so that it lives on in posterity.
Welcome to Hamlet's Castle!
Take a tour through the history of Kronborg Castle, seen through the lens of Shakespeare' s famous play, Hamlet.
As we walk through the corridors and hallways of Kronborg, we tell you stories about the extravagant and dramatic life of the real Danish royal court - stories that inspired Shakespeare to set his world-renowned play about the fictional Danish prince Hamlet at Kronborg.