The 360 video is best viewed using a VR headset, such as the Google Pixel phone with Google Cardboard or Daydream View.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has taken Shakespeare’s most iconic play to meet the cutting edge of immersive storytelling in Hamlet 360: Thy Father’s Spirit, embracing the immersive power of VR to plunge viewers into Hamlet’s harrowing journey. This cinematic 360-degree adaptation explores new dimensions of the medium by casting the viewer as the Ghost of Hamlet’s dead father. Giving them this role as an omniscient observer, guide and participant, lends viewers a sense of agency and urgency throughout the 60-minute experience.

CSC Artistic Director Steven Maler spearheaded this effort with producers Graham Sack and Quentin Little, technical directors and cinematographers Matthew Niederhauser and John Fitzgerald, and costume and production designer Clint Ramos. A brilliant cast of actors, as comfortable on stage as they are on screen, deliver powerful performances that bring the play forward to today, making it both current and timeless.

You can also view the experience on the WGBH You Tube channel. Check out some images below from the set.

Jack Cutmore-Scott (Hamlet), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jack Cutmore-Scott (Hamlet) and Mark Torres (Polonius), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jacob Fishel (Horatio), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Anthony Rapp (Lucianus), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Desean Kevin Terry (Laertes), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Faran Tahir (Claudius), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jack Cutmore-Scott (Hamlet), Faran Tahir (Claudius), Brooke Adams (Queen Gertrude) and Desean Kevin Terry (Lucianus), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Flora Diaz (Ophelia), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jack Cutmore-Scott (Hamlet), Faran Tahir (Claudius), and Brooke Adams (Queen Gertrude), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company The cast of Hamlet 360: Thy Father's Spirit, Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jay O. Sanders (Ghost), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Bruce Odland (Music and Sound Designer) , Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jack Cutmore-Scott (Hamlet), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Faran Tahir (Claudius) and Brook Adams (Queen Gertrude), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Jack Cutmore-Scott (Hamlet) and Jacob Fishel (Horatio), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Faran Tahir (Claudius) and Mark Torres (Polonius), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Brooke Adams (Queen Gertrude), Photo by Matthew Niederhauser Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 1 of 17

Adapted & Directed by Steven Maler

Produced by Graham Sack & Quentin Little

Production & Cinematography by Sensorium

Costume & Production Design by Clint Ramos

Music & Sound Design by Bruce Odland

Technical Direction by Matthew Niederhauser & John Fitzgerald

Post Production Sound by SilVR

Visual Effects by The Molecule

The Cast

Jack Cutmore-Scott as Hamlet

Faran Tahir as Claudius

Brooke Adams as Queen Gertrude

Jacob Fishel as Horatio

Mark Torres as Polonius

Flora Diaz as Ophelia

Desean Kevin Terry as Laertes

Lee Wilkof as the Gravedigger

Scott Barrow as Player King/Gravedigger

Alex Schneps as Gravedigger

with

Jay O. Sanders as the Ghost

and

Anthony Rapp as Lucianus

Additional support for this project is provided by Christy Cashman, Morwin Schmookler, Kerry Healey, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, and Babson College.