“HAMLET by New York Circus Project is a daring, youthful, high-flying trip to Elsinore”
- The Daily Mail
Breaking the boundaries of art forms and time, HAMLET by New York Circus Project transforms Shakespeare’s most famous text into acrobatic choreography, conveying madness, heartbreak, and betrayal as never seen before. Hamlet is consumed by madness flipping around him, the ghost of Hamlet’s father soars high above the young prince, and Ophelia bends over backwards contorting herself for the sake of love. This spectacle-filled adaptation challenges audiences’ expectations of what Shakespearean performance and circus arts can be.
The cast and team of HAMLET by New York Circus Project includes alumni of Cirque du Soleil, Broadway, The 7 Fingers, American Idol, and Disney Theatrical, combining the best of contemporary circus and classical theater to create a new kind of circus. HAMLET by New York Circus Project toured the Unites States in 2024 with performances in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Chicago. In 2025, HAMLET by New York Circus Project made its international debut at the world’s largest performing arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and was met with critical and audience acclaim.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2025
The Scotsman
“Throughout the cast, each acrobatic leap and lift is perfectly executed with confidence and skill, whether they’re building human towers or flipping on the spot. Perhaps what impresses most, however, is that this newly created genre manages to hold both elements in high regard. The circus technique has been hard-won by everyone on stage, and the drama inherent in Shakespeare’s words is treated with the respect it deserves.” - Kelly Apter
The Guardian
“A flashy, dreamy spin on Shakespeare. There’s a hint of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet in the cocksure, poppy aesthetic of this charismatic display of acrobatics, tumbling and clowning.” - Chris Wiegand
British Theatre Guide
“HAMLET by New York Circus Project is a strikingly inventive adaptation that breathes new life into Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. Blending Shakespeare’s original text with mesmerizing acrobatics, expressive dance and playful acting, the performers showcased extraordinary strength and artistry. The result is a bold, even occasionally surprisingly funny retelling that reimagines the characters and storyline with impressive creativity and visual effect.” - Amy Trigwell-Jones
Broadway Baby
“A daring and accomplished Fringe debut that made me excited about seeing Shakespeare again – which is a feat in itself – HAMLET by New York Circus Project is an excellent demonstration that there is still something new to be extracted from the classics if we look hard enough and think outside the box.” - Alice Eaves
The Daily Mail
“HAMLET by New York Circus Project is a daring, youthful, high-flying trip to Elsinore, with an excellent soundtrack ranging from Nina Simone to Chopin, via techno, drum and bass." - Patrick Marmion
HAMLET by New York Circus Project received a Fringe Theatre Award at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival
A note from the director: Why Hamlet?
In selecting HAMLET, we had a desire to create a show that felt experimental yet familiar. There is a constant interplay between tradition and innovation, a reliance on codifications while resisting preconceptions, that is necessary to excite modern audiences. Choosing a show that is such a well-known part of the theatrical canon allows us to portray famed characters through a new medium. Taking inspiration from narrative ballets, movement becomes the detail that fills the world and story with color. Hamlet’s madness manifests through punching, erratic acrobatics, while Ophelia literally twists herself in knots in pursuit of tormented love to her eventual watery death. Laertes is the counterpoint to the physicality Hamlet’s madness, steady in handstands and graceful in movement. Combining classic text and contemporary acrobatics, HAMLET by New York Circus Project builds a world filled with betrayal, love, and delirium.
- Sam Landa, director and co-creator
CAST
Maddox Morfit Tighe – Hamlet
Maleah Rendon – Ophelia
Hilary Dennis – Gertrude
Stephen Elrod – Claudius
Arthur Morel Van Hyfte – Ghost / Player
Guillaume Paquin – Horatio
Eduardo Grillo – Laertes / Player
Dylan Ingwersen – Polonius / Gravedigger / Player
Caroline Bertorello – Rosencrantz
Kaisha Desallines Wright – Guildenstern / Fortinbras
CREATIVE TEAM
Sam Landa – Director, Co-choreographer, Co-creator
Emma Owens – Co-creator
Carolyn Friedman – Dramaturg
Nate Files – Production Designer
Allie Emmerich – Stage Manager
Danielle Diniz – Co-choreographer
Angela Zhang – General Manager
Kristian Woerner – Set Designer
Created by Sam Landa and Emma Owens
2024 U.S. Tour Reviews and Photos
BroadwayWorld
“And now we have an emerging company, the New York Circus Project (NYCP), that wants to take the art of the circus one step further, into the realm of stage drama. Currently on its first national tour with their production of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” co-created by Sam Landa and Emma Owens, the NYCP offers audiences an exhilarating take on a familiar tale… Something about this monolith of a tragedy inspires some of the greatest, most inventive stagings I have ever seen. And now I can place the New York Circus Project among the companies we need to watch. This is a very auspicious debut indeed.”
- Andrew White
Artblog
“I’ve never seen a cast of actors with stronger shoulders. They were able to hold up the weight of the canon with aplomb. It is a valiant desire to take on such a well-known work and tell it again. The New York Circus Project’s daring and imaginative approach breathes new life into a timeless tale, proving that even the most familiar stories can surprise and delight us anew. Whether you’re a Shakespeare aficionado or a circus enthusiast, this production offers something for everyone.”
- Ryan deRoche
Broad Street Review
“Hamlet by New York Circus Project is a surprisingly effective adaptation of Shakespeare’s well-known play into a contemporary acrobatic performance… This production, which landed at FringeArts in late July, opened my eyes to new possibilities for Hamlet as I marveled at the performers’ strength and skill. The company incorporates text with circus arts, dance, and acting to explore Hamlet’s plot, characters, and emotions in fresh ways.”
- Melissa Strong
DC Theater Arts
“This is by far one of the most impressive Shakespeare adaptations I’ve seen in some time, from artists who love and respect their source material. These are designers and creatives who have weaved the emotion and message to this production’s music, staging, all while engaging in high-flying acrobatics, mind-boggling contortionism, and exhilarating aerial work. Audiences were quickly texting and recommending this show. This phenomenal run showcases the timeliness and the flexibility of the Bard’s work when placed, in this case, in chalked-up hands.”
- Julian Oquendo
The Young-Howze Theatre Journal
“As critics, we have a bucket list of things we haven't seen before. We have seen a production or two of Hamlet every year and we love circus arts. Yet then there comes along a group of artists that meld two worlds together, Shakespeare and Circus Arts, and the bucket list cannot contain the emotionally charged beauty that they create. The New York Circus Project led by Sam Landa and Emma Owens cut up the rich language of the Bard and created a circus collage that gave us moments we hadn't seen before. Some of the most visceral scenes in Hamlet became amazing feats of skill or strength that mirrored the journey of the main characters.”
- Ricky and Dana Young-Howze
HAMLET by New York Circus Project was made possible in part with support from Baruch Performing Arts Center, the Cheswatyr Foundation, Stephan Loewentheil, Rita Goldstein, and Michele and Brad Landa-Brooker.