Shakespeare’s classic play Hamlet was performed in Tibetan for the first time on the roof of the world in Lhasa, Tibet. The production, which featured 22 Tibetan actors who graduated from the Shanghai Theater Academy, received high praise from the audience.
Shanghai Theater Academy
In 2021, 22 Tibetan actors graduated from the Shanghai Theater Academy, and they decided to challenge themselves by performing Hamlet. The production marked the first time the classic play was staged in Tibetan language, and it was a success. The actors brought their own unique cultural elements to the play, and their performances were deeply moving.
Pu Cunxin, a famous Chinese actor who directed the graduation drama, commented that Shakespeare’s writing style blended perfectly with the temperament of Tibetan youth. The rich Tibetan culture shares common ground with world literature, and interpreting Western dramas through the Tibetan language is a good starting point.
Hamlet Performed in Tibetan and Mandarin
In May, the 22 Tibetan actors plan to bring the Tibetan-Mandarin version of Hamlet back to Shanghai, an eastern metropolis thousands of miles away.
Translating the English play into Tibetan was a difficult task, but the actors were up to the challenge. Tonzhub Cering, a young Tibetan drama actor who portrayed Hamlet, said that performing the play in Tibetan made his understanding of the character more profound.
Han Wenliang, the deputy head of the drama troupe of Tibet, said that they plan to stage a children’s play this year. The aim is to introduce more world classic plays to Tibet and provide more opportunities for the development of Tibetan dramas.
The performance of Hamlet in Tibetan language by the 22 Tibetan actors is a significant milestone in the development of Tibetan dramas. The play’s success has paved the way for more world classic plays to be performed in Tibet and for the development of the local drama industry. The actors’ hard work and dedication have paid off, and their performances have deeply moved the audience.
