Movies

World’s Most Bizarre Shakespeare Performance: Hamlet in GTA Online!

BBG News

In the spirit of Shakespeare‘s famous line, “To stage or not to stage a play within the realm of a video game—that was the challenge.” The intriguing tale unfolds in the 2022 documentary titled Grand Theft Hamlet, directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls. This groundbreaking production showcases how a group of talented actors successfully staged a performance of Hamlet within the world of Grand Theft Auto Online. And so, Grand Theft Hamlet was born.

In 2020, Sam Crane, an actor from Britain, had an exciting career advancement opportunity as he was selected to play Harry Potter in the highly popular “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” production on London’s West End. However, the production was halted after only a week of rehearsals due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, leaving him without the chance to make his debut on stage.

During lockdown, an actor who had previously been seen on shows like The Crown, Endeavour, and Poldark was seeking ways to pass the time. His friend and fellow jobless actor, Mark Oosterveen, was engrossed in Grand Theft Auto Online, a game that brought the popular GTA series online into a vast multiplayer universe. As they couldn’t meet in person, they found solace in playing together within the game. Grand Theft Auto Online presented an endless array of options: you could attack anyone at will; rob banks; race cars; fly planes; buy new outfits—if you could imagine it, you could accomplish it. When these two stumbled upon a massive outdoor theater in the game (the Vinewood Bowl), they decided to test their limitless possibilities.

With a desire to maintain their acting skills and continue enjoying their craft, they devised an unconventional strategy: They decided to stage a full performance of the gruesome play Hamlet, within the realm of GTA Online. It might sound preposterous, but there’s an intriguing parallel between Shakespearean drama and video games. Just as William Shakespeare was not highly esteemed during his time, with plays filled with sexual innuendos, graphic violence, and profane language, theatre was generally considered a low-brow form of entertainment. Similarly, gaming is often dismissed today as cheap, excessively violent, and mindless entertainment. However, like theatre, video games are an ever-evolving art form where boundaries are consistently challenged.

Crane described GTA Online as “extremely vibrant and lively” during a screening at the London Film Festival. Co-director Pinny Grylls, who is married to Crane, commented that it was this liveliness that drew them to the project. Notably, Grylls had no prior experience with video games before GTA Online, but she was captivated by its cinematic feel, which led her to join the production. This cinematic quality is beautifully translated into the documentary: Grand Theft Hamlet is filmed entirely within the game’s world, using footage recorded during the production of the play, and even the interviews are conducted using game avatars. Grylls expressed that during challenging times, being able to venture into the landscape and explore was a wonderful escape, and this sense of exploration was crucial to their remarkable accomplishments.

In a similar vein, it’s just as preposterous to envision enacting Shakespeare within a popular game characterized by criminal acts, such as GTA. Yet, in the film Grand Theft Hamlet, Grylls poses the question, “Is it possible to stage Hamlet within GTA?”. To this, Oosterveen replies, “I think it’s a poor idea, but I believe we should give it a go.” Their ambition started by attempting to gather other players to participate. They created an entertaining recruitment video in-game, soliciting participation for their production. This video was shared on social media platforms, and surprisingly, people showed interest. Some were actors seeking new opportunities (such as Jen Cohn, a voice actor for Overwatch and Grand Theft Auto V), while others were intrigued by the prospect of performing Shakespeare for the first time.

1. The documentary showcased that friendship wasn’t always smooth sailing: there were disagreements about whether they could successfully carry out their plan and if it was worth the effort. In 2022, job prospects started to improve. However, some cast members couldn’t rehearse as often due to returning to work, while others stepped down or took on smaller roles to keep the production going. Coordinating schedules became more challenging than evading gunfire during gameplay and rehearsing the play. Additionally, Oosterveen experienced a family loss during the pandemic, leaving him feeling lonely, while Crane and Grylls had their own family obligations, including raising two children. Yet, they persisted, demonstrating unwavering determination alongside the rest of the cast.

2. The documentary highlighted that there were tensions among friends about whether they could truly accomplish their goal and if it was worth pursuing. In 2022, job opportunities began to resurface. Unfortunately, some cast members couldn’t rehearse as regularly because they went back to work, while others reduced their roles to ensure the show continued. Organizing schedules turned out to be more difficult than dodging bullets in a game and perfecting the play. On top of that, Oosterveen had suffered a family loss during the pandemic, leaving him feeling secluded, while Crane and Grylls had their hands full with family responsibilities, such as raising two children. Still, they stayed resilient, standing firm alongside the rest of the cast.

3. The documentary brought to light that friendship wasn’t always harmonious: there were differences of opinion about whether they could successfully complete their mission and if it was worth the trouble. In 2022, job opportunities started popping up again. However, some cast members found it hard to rehearse as frequently because they returned to work, while others scaled back their roles to keep the production going. Balancing schedules became trickier than dodging bullets during gameplay and perfecting the play. Moreover, Oosterveen experienced a family tragedy during the pandemic, leaving him feeling disconnected, while Crane and Grylls had their own family commitments, including caring for two children. Nevertheless, they maintained their resolve, joining forces with the rest of the cast.

4. The documentary shed light on the fact that friendship wasn’t always peaceful: there were disagreements about whether they could achieve their goal and if it was worth the struggle. In 2022, job openings began to reappear. Unfortunately, some cast members couldn’t rehearse as much due to returning to work, while others decided to take on smaller roles to keep the show running. Arranging schedules proved more challenging than maneuvering around bullets in a game and perfecting the play. To add to that, Oosterveen suffered a family loss during the pandemic, leaving him feeling isolated, while Crane and Grylls had their own family obligations, such as raising two children. Despite these challenges, they remained steadfast, working alongside the rest of the cast.

5. The documentary revealed that friendship wasn’t always conflict-free: there were debates about whether they could truly succeed and if it was worth the strain. In 2022, job prospects started becoming available once more. Unfortunately, some cast members couldn’t rehearse as often due to returning to work, while others opted for reduced roles to ensure the show continued. Coordinating schedules turned out to be a bigger headache than evading bullets in a game and perfecting the play. On top of that, Oosterveen experienced a family loss during the pandemic, leaving him feeling lonely, while Crane and Grylls had their own family duties, like raising two children. However, they kept going, demonstrating unwavering determination alongside the rest of the cast.

Following numerous rehearsals and unexpected changes, they had prepared themselves for the performance scheduled on July 22, 2022. Thanks to its impressive features, a cast member humorously compares it to a nearly top-tier staging of “Hamlet” in a documentary. The show truly is spectacular, featuring jetplanes and scenes enacted upon luxurious skyscrapers.

In a unique twist compared to pre-recorded performances of the play, other GTA players found enjoyment in interrupting the actors’ scenes by killing them. Lotte Jeffs, in his review for the London Evening Standard, remarked, “He kept dying before he could finish his soliloquies—but wouldn’t Shakespeare have appreciated that?” This spontaneity gave a sense of being at Shakespeare’s Globe 500 years ago, with an electric ambiance contrasting the formal and polite theater etiquette we see today.

The play spanned a total of approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, factoring in the numerous instances where actors were eliminated by their fellow players. In its first three weeks on YouTube, it attracted close to 5 thousand viewers. Originally, the video was uploaded on Crane’s channel named Rustic Mascara, but since then, both the complete play and excerpts of the performance have been taken down from YouTube.

For Crane, stepping back into the shoes of Harry Potter on the West End last October served as a valuable lesson in resilience when he played Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto Online. He noted during the London screening that, despite being attacked and harassed in the game, one could always come back to life and try again. This mirrored the many obstacles they faced but continued to press on, which he believed was a lesson learned from playing the game.

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2025-01-18 00:06

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