Staging Shakespeare in a Digital World: The Story of ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’
Bringing ‘Hamlet’ to Life in Grand Theft Auto
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, two actors sought a creative outlet to combat isolation and boredom. Their ambitious response? A full production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet—but not on a traditional stage. Instead, they brought the play to life within the digital world of Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V). Now, four years later, their extraordinary journey is captured in the documentary Grand Theft Hamlet, premiering Friday on the streaming platform Mubi.
The film first debuted in select theaters in the U.K. and Ireland in December and made its rounds at various film festivals throughout the past year. Directed by documentary filmmaker Pinny Grylls alongside actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, the project began in 2021 and showcases how video game environments can serve as innovative storytelling platforms.
A Unique Fusion of Classic Literature and Modern Gaming
The Grand Theft Auto franchise, which first launched in 1997, is an action-adventure game known for its sprawling open-world cities and crime-based missions. Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a tragic tale of vengeance and moral conflict, has been performed and adapted across countless mediums for centuries. The combination of these two cultural landmarks became an unexpected but fitting escape during the pandemic.
“We were inspired by how alive the world of Grand Theft Auto felt at a time when everything else was shut down,” said Crane, who played the title role in the virtual adaptation.
Despite its popularity, Rockstar Games—the developer of GTA V—did not respond to inquiries regarding the project’s crossover with Shakespeare’s work.
The Challenges of Virtual Theater
Performing a play inside an online multiplayer game presented a variety of hurdles. Crane and Oosterveen, both seasoned actors, along with Grylls, who is married to Crane, had to cast additional players to take part in their digital production. They put out a call for participants through GTA V’s in-game social media features and scouted for in-game locations that could serve as their stage.
However, the process was far from smooth. The trio faced numerous challenges, including interference from other players, logistical obstacles in coordinating their cast, and a critical cast member dropping out at a crucial stage. At one point, tensions flared between Crane and Oosterveen as they struggled to keep the project afloat. Despite these setbacks, their determination led them to discover “surprising truths about life, friendship, and the enduring power of Shakespeare,” as shared in a promotional post on the documentary’s Instagram page.
A Livestreamed Theatrical Event
After months of preparation, the team finally staged their performance within GTA V and livestreamed it on Twitch and YouTube in July 2022. At the time, they were thrilled to see dozens of viewers tune in, engaging with their unconventional take on the classic tragedy. The audience embraced the project’s ingenuity, admiring the actors’ commitment to completing their rendition of Hamlet against the odds.
With Grand Theft Hamlet now reaching a wider audience through its Mubi release, the creators hope more people will appreciate their efforts and the artistic possibilities of virtual worlds.
“I would say that this film is also a statement about how important it is not to be perfectionist in a way,” said Grylls. “We are obsessed with creating perfect films, perfect pieces of theater, perfect pieces of media, and making ourselves look perfect as well. And it’s rubbish.”
The Future of Theater in Digital Spaces
The trio’s experiment aligns with a growing trend of using video games as a medium for storytelling. Similar projects, such as Rooster Teeth’s Red vs. Blue, which utilized the Halo game engine to create a long-running web series, have demonstrated the potential for blending gaming with cinematic and theatrical storytelling.
The success of Grand Theft Hamlet raises intriguing questions about the future of digital theater and how online spaces might continue to serve as creative venues. As technology advances and virtual worlds become even more immersive, this fusion of classical literature and modern gaming may not be a one-time experiment but the beginning of a new artistic movement.
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