Choreographer Guillaume Côté and director Robert Lepage’s dance-theatre production The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark takes the stage at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre from April 24 to 26, 2026. Ex Machina, Côté Danse, Dvoretsky Productions and presenting partner Show One Productions presents the return of this inventive — and wordless — performance.
Director Robert Lepage has a storied career that has included high profile productions at the Metropolitan Opera, Stratford Festival, and Cirque du tragedy, among others. Dancer/choreographer Guillaume Côté recently retired after a long tenure as a Principal Dance with the National Ballet of Canada.
Together, with award-winning composer John Gzowski’s original score, they’ve put together a unique take on the Shakespearean tragedy.
The production premiered in 2024, and went on to an international tour of 15 cities in five countries.
The work delves into the story of grief and loss, crippling doubt, and a shattered hold on sanity with a contemporary lens. Côté’s choreography fuses classical and contemporary movement, and he and nine dancers perform in the exploration of Shakespeare’s seminal work. Living characters share the space with phantoms in the minimalist production, characterized by its theatricality and atmospheric lighting design.
Sonia Rodriguez, also a former Principal Dancer at The National Ballet of Canada, performs the role of Queen Gertrude, marking a return to the stage.
“Robert has lived with Hamlet for much of his artistic life, and that depth continues to shape this work in powerful ways,” says Côté in a statement.
“Since the world premiere in Toronto, the piece has evolved through each city and each audience. Returning home after touring internationally feels especially meaningful, and it reaffirms why Hamlet remains such a profound reflection of the human experience.”
“Hamlet has followed me throughout my career, both as a play and as a character,” adds Lepage. “Seeing this wordless version grow through its international journey has been incredibly rewarding. Bringing it back to Toronto allows us to revisit the work with new perspective, shaped by time, travel and continued collaboration with Guillaume.”
The production also features modular set pieces, and cutting edge technology to create an immersive and dream-like experience.
The creative team also includes:
- Steve Blanchet, Creative Director at Ex Machina, leading scenic concept and visual world-building;
- Simon Rossiter, award-winning lighting designer specializing in dance;
- Michael Gianfrancesco, celebrated costume designer for theatre, opera and ballet.
“I am honored to bring this extraordinary collaboration back to Toronto,” says producer Svetlana Dvoretsky. “Guillaume Côté and Robert Lepage are singular talents whose artistic languages intertwine beautifully. For a producer, this type of project is a dream, and it is thrilling to witness its evolution on stages around the world.”
Details
Performances take place at the Elgin Theatre:
- Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m.
Find tickets and other show details [HERE].
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