Perennially one of the most-produced playwrights in America, Lauren Gunderson returns to discuss A Room in the Castle, her new play based on the women of Hamlet now having its world premiere at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Folger Theatre in Washington DC. Lauren talks about the evolution of her play and reveals how it became more focused on Gertrude, rather than Ophelia; an excellent reason why artists should lunch with other artists; how there is always another story going on; how young people in love are dumb; what her next play will focus on; the definitive answer to the question of Gertrude’s complicity in King Hamlet’s murder; and how the women of Denmark survive in a world (much like ours) where “patriarchy’s gonna patriarchy.” (Length 24:13) (PICTURED, above: Sabrina Lynne Sawyer and Oneika Phillips in the world-premiere of “A Room in the Castle” based on the women of “Hamlet,” by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Folger Theatre playing January 24-February 9, 2025 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Photo by Mikki Schaffner. Below, Lauren Gunderson and Austin Tichenor, San Francisco, 2025. Selfie by Austin Tichenor.)
3 Comments
Jill Quarmby · December 2, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Hi Austin…..l am SO sorry, l have only just picked up your reply and it may be far too late to say ‘of course’ to your request to put my words on a poster. l really hope that you bring the show back to York, if only so that l get out again ( only joking) For my sins l am a proff audio describer so work on literally hundreds of shows – yours is still one of my top ten though!!
austin · June 17, 2012 at 4:21 am
Thank you, Jill! You either have exquisite taste or need to get out more. Would you mind if we put your words on a poster? “If there was an Olympic Sport for making people cry with laughing, these guys would win the Gold Medal!” – Jill, that woman we met in the lobby that time. Many thanks!!
Jill Quarmby · June 16, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Went to York Theatre Royal today to see ‘The Complete world of Sports’ by the Reduced Shakespeare Company ……if there was an Olympic Sport for making people cry with laughing these guys would win the Gold Medal, hands down. Their infectious enthusiasm, wit and sheer manic energy was absolutely brilliant . Stopping yourself from giggling long after the show has finished is a real problem tho !!