Archive · 17 Jan 2026
Adishakti Reimagines Hamlet as a Woman
Adishakti, a theatre group in Puducherry, has created a new play called 'A Woman or Not to Be.'
It's a fresh take on Shakespeare's famous play 'Hamlet.'
In this version, Hamlet is a woman, a princess who faces big problems.
The play talks about how women are treated unfairly in stories and in real life.
The director and actors want to show that these old stories can be changed to make them more fair and interesting for today's audiences.
The play has been performed in different cities and is getting a lot of attention.
Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research presents 'A Woman or Not to Be,' a reimagining of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' with a female protagonist.
The play is written by Vinay Kumar KJ and directed by Nimmy Raphel, both disciples of the late theatre doyen Veenapani Chawla.
Princess Hamlet is portrayed as a 20-year-old college student who practices martial arts and is a fan of Japanese manga and anime.
The play challenges misogyny in classic literature, highlighting how women are often victims of male ego and patriarchy.
The production features Adishakti's signature style of choreography, interactive physical movement, and silences interspersed with well-known story elements.
- Who
- Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research
- What
- A radical interpretation of Hamlet titled 'A Woman or Not to Be'
- When
- Opened this year, currently on tour
- Where
- Puducherry, India, with performances in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune
- Why
- To challenge misogyny in classic literature and reinterpret stories for modern audiences
- Play Title
- A Woman or Not to Be
- Original Work
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
- Author
- Vinay Kumar KJ
- Director
- Nimmy Raphel
- Theatre Group
- Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research
- Location
- Puducherry, India
- Tour Venues
- Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune