“The purpose of playing…[is] to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature” (Hamlet)

Upon receiving news of his father’s sudden death, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, hurries back to his country, only to find that his uncle, Claudius, has succeeded to the throne and married Hamlet’s widowed mother. Stunned after losing everything, Hamlet is confronted by his father’s ghost, who commands his son to avenge his death at the hands of Claudius.

This is the first production at SPAC by director UEDA Kumiko, who has risen to prominence through her tireless activities within Japan and overseas. UEDA, who is laser-focused on work that bridges the gap between popular appeal and artistry, and which even first-time theatre-goers can enjoy, is teaming up with SPAC for the first time with this staging of Shakespeare’s theatrical masterpiece. Through the medium of the actors’ bodies, this ambitious play simultaneously depicts human love and hate, justice, existence after death, space, and the providence of the natural world.
　
Directed by UEDA Kumiko
Written by William SHAKESPERARE
　

Profile

UEDA Kumiko

Playwright/director, graduated in French literature from Kyoto University, Ueda has been creating works since 2013 at the intersection of philosophy, corporeality, and visual aesthetics. In 2023–2024, she is conducting research at the Théâtre de Gennevilliers as part of an official artistic training program supported by the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs. During this period, she established her base in France, where she continues to live and work.
Her work explores the sensitive forms of temporality and instinct in a society dominated by productivity. In 2022, her play “Biome” was nominated for the Kishida Kunio Prize, and in 2024, she was selected for an official residency at KIAC for her project “Pneuma”. Recent projects include “Cavalleria Rusticana” (Aichi Arts Center), “Banquet du Vide” (Kamata Onsen), and “Pneuma” (KIAC), with video excerpts available below.
She is currently developing “Les Pleureuses” and “When Does Time Become Beauty?”, two France-based projects that explore the female body and time through choreographic research. Both works are being created in collaboration with artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting her commitment to transcultural and interdisciplinary creation.

Cast

　

Infomation

2025
Sunday, 9 November at 1:30 pm＊Post-performance talk
Saturday, 15 November at 1:30 pm
Saturday, 22 November at 1:30 pm＊Backstage tour/◆Nursary service available
Sunday, 23 November at 1:30 pm＊Backstage tour
Saturday, 29 November at 1:30 pm◆Japanese/English subtitles available
Saturday, 6 December at 1:30 pm◆Japanese/English subtitles available
Sunday, 7 December at 1:30 pm＊Pre-performance/◆Japanese/English subtitles available

At Shizuoka Arts Theatre
　
Duration: Within 120minuites（to be determined）
In Japanese
　
◆Japanese subtitles
will be available for the performances on 29 November, 6 and 7 December.
Mobile tablets for subtitles are available free of charge. (limited number of devices)
▼Booking form for tablets.
https://forms.gle/EN4gEMd2up4EHmNL9
　
◆English subtitles
will be available for the performances on 29 November, 6 and 7 December.
Mobile tablets for subtitles are available free of charge. (limited number of devices)
▼Booking form for tablets.
https://forms.gle/RYHx71v1sXwuGb6K9

　

Related events

Pre-Performance Talk
Starting 25 minutes before each performance. Free of charge. No reservation required. (In Japanese only, expect 7 December)
　
Meet us at Café Cinderella!
After the performance, the actors will come to see you off in their stage costumes. We hope you will take this opportunity to interact with the actors!
　
Pre-performance
A mini performance introducing “Hamlet”
7 December at 13:05 pm
At Shizuoka Arts Theatre, Café Cinderella (2nd Floor)
Approx. 15 minutes / Free, no reservation required
Performed by the students of the Drama Program, Arts Department, Shimizu Minami High School
　
Post-performance talk
Sunday, 9 November after the perfomance
by UEDA Kumiko and ISHIGAMI Natsuki (SPAC Autumn Season 2025-2026 Artistic Director)
　
Backstage tour
The technical staff will take you on a special backstage tour.
22, 23 November after the performance
Time: About 30 minutes
Free of charge. Reservation required. Up to 40 people.

Cry room

At Shizuoka Arts Theatre, there is a soundproof room where you can watch the performance through a glass window.

〈Ticket Prices〉
・Adults: ¥3,200 per person
・Children requiring a seat (high school age and under): ¥1,100
・Children not requiring a seat: Free
*Tickets are available by phone or at the box office only.
　

Nursery service

Nursery service will be available for the performance on 22 November.
Please contact [ticket@spac.or.jp] by 15 November in advance if you would like to use the nursery service.

【Services available in Japanese only】
Coverage: 6 months to 7 years old
Fee: ¥1,000 per child

Performances for junior and high-school students

SPAC believes that theaters are a window to the world, and that is why it invites junior high school and high school students in Shizuoka Prefecture to its free-of-charge programs.

　

Ticket Price

4,600 yen (One viewing for regular adult)

●Student Discount:
　［U25 and University students］2,200 yen
　［High school students and under］1,100 yen
　*Please present ID/student ID at door
●Disability discount: 3,200 yen (for those with a disability pocketbook)
　*Please present disability pocketbook or Mirairo ID at door
　*Free for One attendant.

*More than one discount cannot be claimed per purchase.
*Please claim any discount when making a reservation

　

How to Purchase

◆Prior Reservation for Membership begins:
　7 September at 10:00
◆Advance Tickets Sale begins:
　14 September at 10:00
　
●Online reservations
– Please enter from the language button “English”.
– Payment is possible with the following credit cards: DC, UFJ, NICOS, VISA, and Master. Tickets purchased through this website can be received at the venue from one hour prior to each performance.
　
●Phone reservations
from 10:00-18:00 at SPAC ticket center
TEL. +81-(0)54-202-3399

●Purchase at BOX Office
SPAC ticket center (10:00-18:00)
　
Day Ticket
Available at the entrance counter for leftover seats, from one hour prior to each performance.
*Please confirm ticket availability on the day by phone or by visiting SPAC official website

*Ticket reservations will finish at 18:00 on the day before the performance.

Please refrain from taking infants to the ordinary seats.
　

Staff

Lighting design: OSAKO Koji
Set design: FUKASAWA Eri
Sound design: SAWADA Yukino
Costume design: SEI Chigusa

Rehearsal director: TERAUCHI Ayako
Stage manager: HARAIKAWA Yukio
Stage: FURUYA Kazumi, TSUCHIYA Katsunori
Lighting operator: TAKEZAWA Akira
Sound: KONDO Yu
Assistant set design: SATO Yosuke
Wardrobe: IKEDA Yuna
Technical director: MURAMATSU Atsushi

Production: YONEYAMA Junichi, MAEHARA Takuya, MURAKAMI Ema

Flyer design: ABE Taichi (TAICHI ABE DESIGN INC.)

Produced and organized by SPAC-Shizuoka Performing Arts Center
Approved by Fujinokuni Arts Festival
Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan through the Japan Arts Council