Founded in 1964 by Eugenio Barba, Odin Teatret is one of the most influential theatre companies of the contemporary scene. Throughout its history, Barba has shaped theatre as a free and human laboratory, open to intercultural dialogue and experimentation. Hamlet’s Clouds, presented at Biennale Teatro 2025, marks a new chapter in the company’s journey.
The performance is inspired by the figure of Hamlet, intertwined with a personal tragedy in Shakespeare’s life — the death of his only son, Hamnet, in 1596. Five years later, the playwright wrote Hamlet, and the near-identity of the two names has led many scholars to explore a possible link. Barba uses this connection to question what we inherit from our fathers and what, in turn, we can pass on to our children.
Subtitled Dedicated to Hamnet and to the youth without a future, Hamlet’s Clouds is a visionary and unconventional reading of the classic. Here, Ophelia is the one who utters the iconic “To be or not to be,” and Shakespeare’s lines blend with philosophical and theatrical reflections, from Aristophanes to Macbeth. The lighting and video design by Stefano Di Buduo — also known for the documentary Zona Limite — play a vital role in shaping the visual and emotional space of the piece.
2, 3, 4 June h. 9 pm
