What happens when the most famous ghost in literature runs the risk of being forgotten? Crownless is a bold new spin on Hamlet, narrated by the ghost of Hamlet’s father. He has a score to settle, but there’s just one problem: his only daughter isn’t very interested in helping. When Hamlet’s friends tell her that the ghost of her father is waiting for her in the garden – she takes a pass. But revenge is not something a king lets go of easily. So, in a desperate attempt to be heard, he haunts her coat.
What begins as a demand for vengeance, unravels into a fractured relationship exposed and forced into confrontation. Using actual text from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and blending it with contemporary female poetry, this one-woman show is a Hamlet that you haven’t met before. It’s a ghost story, a coming-of-age tale, and a stylish love letter to saying “no.”
With sharp dialogue, unexpected laughs, and a coat full of unresolved trauma… this show walks the line between comedy and heartbreak. Perfect for lovers (and haters) of Shakespeare, poetry fans, supporters of feminism, and anyone who’s ever argued with a parent’s voice in their head.
Featuring text from: Leland Bardwell, Emily Dickinson, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Amanda Gorman, Jane Hirshfield, Denise Levertov, Sylvia Plath, Maya C. Popa, and William Shakespeare.
Written & Performed by Ashley Amodeo
Directed by Lise Olson
Voiceovers by: Lola Beal, Ellie Grace, Emma Graveling, & Chrysten Peddie.
