HAMLETMACHINE

HAMLETMACHINE

'To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing, end them?'

- Shakespeare, Hamlet

A kaleidoscopic retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Heiner Müller’s HAMLETMACHINE is an absurdist take on human desire for self-serving power mixed with self-doubt and embroiled guilt. Like Hamlet’s timeless dilemma—“to be or not to be”—Müller’s protagonist oscillates between blaming others, torturous introspection and moral dilemma. HAMLETMACHINE is a provocation. It doesn't attempt to tell you what is what, rather, it leaves that to you, the audience, to ponder and draw your own conclusions.

“ It may be read as a pamphlet against the illusion that one can stay innocent in this our world.” — Heiner Müller, April 30, 1986

Written in 1977 by Heiner Müller while living in East Berlin, HAMLETMACHINE is a fractured, poetic response to a world in crisis. In 2025, that world feels all too familiar.

This new production sees third-year Performance and Theatre students take on Müller’s enigmatic text—not to solve it, but to live inside it. Through deep exploration with physical and vocal experimentation, the cast has forged a unique theatrical language for their version of HAMLETMACHINE. The creative and technical team have constructed a raw, immersive scenographic world - cardboard, video, sound and light - a stage built from the debris of our times.

This production is not suitable for anyone 16 or under. The performance contains references and depictions of topics which some viewers may find offensive or triggering. These include: depictions and discussions of death, sex, violence, incest, self harm and, suicide.

Written by: Heiner Müller (transl. Carl Weber)

Director: Linda Luke

Cast: Everhart Coster, Angel Duggan, Lilli Grahame Dillane, Brittney Jones, Jasmin Moller, Monica Newsome, Lana Page, April Rodgers, Alexandria Walker

Production and Stage Manager: Callum Haddow

Sound Design: Chase Coussens

Lighting and Video Design: Tibee Leung

Set Design: Lucia McAlister

Thursday 30 October - Saturday 1 November 2025, Nightly at 7pm

Saturday 1 November Matinee at 2pm

G04 Theatre, Building 29

School of the Arts, English and Media

Bookings Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DGGFD

Ticket prices Full: $25 // Concession: $15 // TAEM students: $10 // Bachelor Performance & Theatre (BPT) students: $5

Note: above students can also attend Saturday Matinee FREE

*students will be asked to enter their student number to receive discounted ticket

Location:
Building 29 Theatre G04
University of Wollongong
Northfields Ave
NSW 2522

Phone: 02 4221 4354

For more information contact the School of the Arts, English and Media

Details on past and present productions can be found here

No tickets will be available at the door - all tickets must be purchased through. TryBookings. 

For any feedback or concerns please contact the event organiser.