Migrant knife threat ends performance of Hamlet at Calais ‘Jungle’ camp
By KATIE MANSFIELD PUBLISHED: 08:39, Mon, Feb 8, 2016
A PERFORMANCE of Hamlet at a notorious migrant camp in Calais was cut short, literally, after knife-wielding men were seen backstage.
Shakespeare's Globe touring company staged a one-off performance of Hamlet at the camp, dubbed 'the Jungle' but the play ended an hour early.
Dozens of migrants believed bad weather was the reason as temperatures plummeted but the executive producer of the London-based touring company has revealed knives were found backstage.
Speaking to the Times, Tom Bird said: "People were trying to cut through to the backstage. There were a lot of knives around. That's what really put me on edge. They were visible and out."
Nobody was directly threatened with the knives but slashes were found in the dome-shaped marquee that is home to Good Chance theatre company, which was founded four months ago at the camp by playwrights Joe Robertson and Joe Murphy.
According to the Times, one knife belonged to boy called Norullah who claims to be 19.
Artistic director Mr Robertson, who later spoke to Norullah about a knife, said: "Norullah sees the theatres as his, which of course it is and suddenly these English actors arrive and he's not allowed in. His father was killed by the Taliban in front of him. His school was burnt down by the Taliban, while he was still in it. And now he's living in the cold mud of Northern France. By himself. He's come on his own. Three thousand miles."
The next day the slashes in the dome were repaired.
The London-based theatre company took its world touring production of the Bard's timeless tragedy for a one-off performance at the sprawling site in northern France.
A synopsis translated into languages including Arabic and Farsi was handed out for the crowds before the play, along with bags of popcorn.
The show was part of the Globe to Globe tour, which has also seen performances staged at refugee camps in Jordan, Djibouti and the Cameroon.
More than 4,00 refugees desperate to reach Britain are camped out at the Jungle.
Many have fled war, poverty and persecution from countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea.
Another 2,500 migrants are living in a makeshift camp along the coast near Dunkirk.
A spokesman for Shakespeare’s Globe said: “We have given shortened performances of Hamlet in a number of places, including other refugee camps. In Shakespeare's day touring shows were often cut and edited to make shows appropriate for different venues and audiences.
"We were aware of knives being present, but this was one of several factors that led us to slightly shorten what was always going to be a shortened version of the production.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Good Chance Calais for comment.
Migrant knife threat ends performance of Hamlet at Calais ?Jungle? camp | World | News | Daily Express
