Movies of War

This article is part of a Tyee Presents initiative. Tyee Presents is the special sponsored content section within The Tyee where we highlight contests, events and other initiatives that are put on either by us or by our select partners. The Tyee does not and cannot vouch for or endorse products advertised on The Tyee. We choose our partners carefully and consciously, to fit with The Tyee’s reputation as B.C.’s Home for News, Culture and Solutions. Learn more about Tyee Presents. DanceHouse, alongside community partners Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival and Théâtre la Seizième, presents the B.C. premiere of Ex Machina & Côté Danse’s thrilling reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, onstage from March 18 to 21 at the Vancouver Playhouse (with an additional performance just added due to popular demand). Created by two Canadian icons — choreographer Guillaume Côté, who will reprise the role of Hamlet in Vancouver, and director Robert Lepage — this full-length production explores the play’s enduring themes of power, betrayal and inner turmoil through movement, lighting and minimal set design alone, offering a resonant and wordless reflection on struggles that remain deeply relevant today. “When I first experienced Hamlet, Prince of Denmark in Montreal in February 2025, I was genuinely jubilant — this was a work that immediately felt essential to share. The collaboration between Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté brings together two extraordinary artistic voices: Lepage’s theatrical imagination and Côté’s choreographic and performative brilliance,” says Jim Smith, artistic and executive director of DanceHouse. “Lepage’s work has not been seen in Vancouver for some time, and it feels especially meaningful to welcome him back through a creation that so powerfully reconsiders Shakespeare through movement, invention and contemporary form.” Accompanied by an evocative original score by John Gzowski, the all-star cast brings Shakespeare’s characters to life: Hamlet and Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Horatio and Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius and Polonius. The innovative choreography blends classical, contemporary and street-dance influences, resulting in “gripping dance sequences... that breathe new life into the tale, easily replacing those ever-so-famous words with gestures. Ophelia’s suicide, Hamlet’s soliloquy, the final duel — together, Côté and Lepage make those canonical moments feel new,” according to Intermission Magazine. Pools of golden light from designer Simon Rossiter, blood-red velvet drapery and occasional surtitles functioning as a Greek chorus create a striking visual landscape, offering audiences a chance to experience the familiar tragedy in a bold new form. With its fusion of innovative choreography and theatrical artistry, this groundbreaking production invites Shakespeare and dance enthusiasts and newcomers alike to immerse themselves in the shadowy realm of Hamlet. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark runs from March 18 to 21 at the Vancouver Playhouse. In anticipation of its B.C. premiere, DanceHouse is giving away two tickets to one lucky Tyee reader. Enter to win below. Fill out my online form. About DanceHouse DanceHouse connects Vancouver audiences, and the local arts community, to the international world of dance by presenting exceptional companies that are recognized for their excellence, innovation and international reputation. Since 2008, DanceHouse has presented vibrant and inspiring companies from Canada and around the world. In addition to the performances onstage, DanceHouse offers a suite of engagement opportunities and a chance for the general public and local artistic community to engage with the presented artists and their work. Read more: Theatre This article is part of a Tyee Presents initiative. Tyee Presents is the special sponsored content section within The Tyee where we highlight contests, events and other initiatives that are put on either by us or by our select partners. The Tyee does not and cannot vouch for or endorse products advertised on The Tyee. We choose our partners carefully and consciously, to fit with The Tyee’s reputation as B.C.’s Home for News, Culture and Solutions. Learn more about Tyee Presents.