Review: Half Hour Hamlet
Picture: Embracing the Half Hour Hamlet ‘rowdy tavern aesthetic’ Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Half Hour Hamlet is one of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble’s ‘Shakespeare Shorts.’ This is a show that absolutely delivers on its promise—and more. Great acting, appropriate staging, fabulous audience interaction, and a high-energy show that is perfect for lovers of Shakespeare and for everyone who was forced to study Shakespeare at school and thought they’d never like to hear another word of the Bard’s work again…
Director Rebecca Murphy, and the QSE team, have together done a great job of distilling the more than 30,500 words in Shakespeare’s most wordy play, down to a show of less than 40 minutes…. including encores! Transforming one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies into a comedy requires talent and a familiarity with the text and themes. Fortunately, the QSE team has attracted a strong team for this show. Murphy provides a great introduction to the piece, encouraging a ‘rowdy tavern aesthetic,’ encouraging everyone to cry, laugh or cheer, and reminding us all not to forget calling for an encore at the end. As an active participant in the fun, Murphy is also a fabulous Gertrude (excellent drinking of the poison!), and slightly petulant Ophelia (with an great mad scene).
The talented Rebekah Schmidt is a wonderful choice for the central role of Hamlet, leading the ‘To Be or Not to Be’ opening and closing number, and delivering a Hamlet who combines the right amount of angst, and indecisiveness, with impetuousness and sassy swashbuckling. Angus Thorburn is a terrific choice as the evil Claudius, and a fabulous ghostly King. Leah Mustard is excellent as Polonius, and also as Horatio—with Meg Bennett giving a solid performance as both Laertes and Marcellus. The fourth-wall breaking moments are well-chosen, the costumes and set are sufficient to support the storytelling, and the increasing speed toward the promised ‘half hour only’ adds to the fun.
If you are very familiar with Hamlet, the QSE production has all the famous lines for your personal ‘Hamlet Bingo.’ If you are not so familiar with the play, I am equally certain you will have fun at this show. Front-row seats at the weekend were occupied by several under-10s who were mesmerised by the antics, story and costume changes—and who were quite vocal in calling for the very speedy ‘encores.’
Picture: Half Hour Hamlet . Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Picture: Excellent audience participation (Image credit: Creative Futures Photography).
Picture: Entertaining. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography.
Picture: Enthralled. Credit: Creative Futures Photography.
Picture: Great character acting (image credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture: The ghostly appearance. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography.
Sadly the Half Hour Hamlet has finished the very short 2026 Anywhere Festival Moreton Bay run, but members of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble (QSE) will be returning to the festival stage for their 22nd May Pick & (Re)Mix show at the Arana Hills Community Centre. Pick & (Re)Mix is a show where the audience is in control, which means that you can decide which Shakespeare character makes it to the stage. The program promises ‘hijinks, musical interludes, fun games, dance numbers and plenty of wooden sword-wielding mayhem.’ I just wish I could be there as its certain to be a hoot.
For future shows, I strongly recommend following the QSE socials. I also hear that the QSE ‘Shakespeare’s Shorts’ will tour on-demand throughout Brisbane and beyond, bringing some of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies to festivals, schools, and events in hilarious and accessible short-form. Lobby now for Half Hour Hamlet, Express Macbeth, and/or Instant Romeo & Juliet to come to a school, library, college or event near you. This has to be one of the most entertaining ways in which to enjoy and reconnect with Shakespeare’s work. I just wish I’d had shows like these around when I was studying Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth!
Picture: Half Hour Hamlet ‘To Be or Not to Be.’ Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography
Audience information: The 2026 Anywhere Festival Moreton Bay program included just one performance of Half Hour Hamlet, at Hip Hops Brewers, The Sheds, 264 South Pine Road, Brendale (17 May 2026). Tickets $10-$18 (plus $4.40 ticket fee). No warnings. Note that venue access is only via a staircase. All ages (recommend 5+). 33 minutes, including encores.
The reviewer attended the 17 May 2026 1:30pm performance at Hip Hops Brewers (264 S Pine Rd, Brendale 4500).