Five Truths

What are the differences between five of the most influential European theatre practitioners of the 20th century? How would these five directors work with the actress playing Ophelia in the famous mad scene in Shakespeare’s Hamlet? What would they ask the actress to do and how would they ask the actress to behave? A video installation called Five Truths commissioned by the V&A in partnership with the National Theatre was created by a group of contemporary theatre makers lead by Katie Mitchell, looking at these questions. The multi-screen installation brings together five interpretations of Ophelia’s madness in Hamlet. and consists of ten short films suggesting possible variations in what you might see. Ten screens of varying sizes simultaneously play films of Ophelia interpreted dramatically through the lens of Constantin Stanislavski, Antonin Artaud, Bertolt Brecht, Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brook.