SENSORY FRIENDLY GUIDE - NE Regional Tour - Hamlet (2026)

by William Shakespeare

This sensory-friendly performance of Hamlet by William Shakespeare is presented by the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare and features six different actors.

During the show, you will hear different sound effects and music, see different kinds of lights, and see dances and stage fights performed. The volume of the sounds has been lowered a bit, and some of the lights in the theater will remain on during the performance so you are able to move around, enter, and exit as you need.

In the tradition of Shakespearean theater, people in the audience may make noises throughout the play, such as clapping and cheering for the hero or hissing at the villain.

Hamlet is 90 minutes and has no intermission, but you’re free to leave and return at any time. The full program, with a pre-show speech, is one hour, 45 minutes.

THE THEATER

We are going to the theater at Shakespeare & Company to see a show. The theater is called the Tina Packer Playhouse.

PARKING

We will park the car in the parking lot near the theater, then walk to the theater entrance.

LOBBY

The lobby has many windows with views of what’s outside.

There is a concessions stand where anyone can buy a drink or a snack.

The lobby can be noisy when there are people in it.

We will walk into the lobby before we go into the theater where we will see the show.

THE BOX OFFICE

Before we go into the theater, we will pick up our tickets for the show from the Box Office.

Everyone needs a ticket to go into the theater to see the show.

A patron picks up a

THE TICKET WINDOW

The Box Office is a table with a red curtain behind it.

The person at the table will hand us tickets for the show.

TICKET SCANNERS

The theater usher will take our tickets to scan with a small, handheld machine that beeps.

After the beeping sound, we may enter the theater.

USHERS

The theater usher is a friendly helper.

We can ask the theater usher for help at any time.

The theater usher can help us find our seats.

ENTERING THE THEATER

When we hear the bell, we will enter the theater.

When we enter the theater, we will walk through red canvas walls to get to our seats.

OUR SEATS

The seats in the theater are benches. They have letters and numbers on them.

Every ticket has a letter and a number.

We will match the ticket letter and number to the letter and number on the bench to find our seats.

An usher can help us find our seats.

This is where we will sit to watch the show.

STAIRS AND AISLES

We will walk carefully down a few stairs to get to our seats.

SITTING

The people who came together can sit together.

There may be people we don’t know sitting near us.

When we are seated, sometimes people will walk by or in front of us.

THE STAGE

The stage includes light and dark green curtains, brown wooden center arches, movable gold and red seated thrones, and movable gold and red bench.

Actors come on stage from behind these curtains and from each side of the stage.

Actors will come on stage from backstage or from the wings on the left and right of the stage.

Sometimes, an actor will walk in the aisles to and from the stage.

THE ACTORS

This is what the actors look like. Some play a few different parts during the show.

Sometimes actors play parts of different genders than their own.

The actors will come on stage before the show to introduce themselves.

THE START OF THE SHOW

The actors will come on stage before the show to introduce themselves.

When the show starts, the lights will dim slightly, and it will not get any darker than this.

There is always enough light in the aisles if we need to leave.

DURING THE SHOW

Some actors will wear different costumes and use different voices to play various parts. Sometimes, the actors will use props, like swords.

Some sounds and music will play during the show. Sometimes, lights will be used briefly to look like lighting.

The audience is welcome to make some noises during the show, like cheering for the hero or hissing at the villain.

BATHROOM

If any of us need to go to the bathroom, we can get up to go any time.

Ushers can show us where the bathrooms are.

When the toilets flush, they are a little bit loud.

QUIET SPACE

If any of us need to take a break, we can go out to the lobby.

Anyone can sit in the break space, or walk around the lobby.

The break space will have pillows and cushions, as well as fidget toys and stress balls.

CLAPPING

The show ends when the actors bow.

People will clap at the end of the show.

Sometimes people will stand up to clap, and sometimes people will shout out to the actors.

It is ok to cover our ears if the clapping is too loud.

It is ok to “clap” with fingers waving (ASL claps)

People only clap for a short time.

LEAVING

Everyone in the theater will leave around the same time.

The stairs might be crowded.

We will walk slowly out of the theater.

SENSORY BREAKDOWN

Show Start – An actor introduces the show.

:02 – The play begins. The audience claps and cheers.

:07 – Music plays as two masked characters enter and begin a dance.

:55 – Music intensifies after one of the characters exits the stage, and another character enters.

1:10 – One character grabs the other character’s shoulder, knocking their necklace that makes a rattling noise.

1:30 – The music shifts as one character exits the stage and the first character re-enters.

1:50 – Music intensifies again as the third character re-enters.

2:24 – Trumpets sound for about 30 seconds.

3:30 – One of the characters, Claudius, invites the audience to applaud.

6:00 – Trumpets sound

7:00 – Two characters enter suddenly from the side of the curtains.

7:45 – A character draws a sword, making a loud metallic sound, and then puts it away.

9:20 – The lights change, and the sound of birds is heard.

10:25 – A character shouts from off stage.

13:05 – Music begins to play in the background while the characters continue to speak.

13:35 – The music ends. The audience might clap as Ophelia exits.

14:05 – A rumbling sound is heard. Trumpets begin after the rumbling.

14:10 – A character begins to enter from the audience.

14:20 – A character draws a sword.

15:12 – The lights change. Sinister music plays while the characters speak. The characters occasionally raise their voices during this scene.

16:00 – The background music intensifies.

18:25 – The character yells loudly as he exits the stage. The lights change.

19:05 – Hamlet falls to the floor, his sword loudly clanging on the ground as he drops it.

20:21 – Voices whisper “Swear” twice through the sound system. Sinister music begins to play again.

21:01 – The voice says “Swear” more intensely, once

21:28 – The lights change.

21:35 – A character speaks from off stage.

22:54 – Soft music begins to play in the background while the characters continue to speak.

28:10 – Hamlet enters from the audience.

33:20 – Trumpets sound.

33:40 – Trumpets sound again.

34:58 – The lights change.

36:18 – Music begins to play while Hamlet speaks.

37:12 – The lights change and get brighter.

38:35 – The lights dim. Hamlet enters from the audience and speaks from the audience as he walks toward the stage.

40:40 – The lights change and get brighter.

42:48 – Hamlet slams his hands on the ground.

43:30 – Hamlet grabs papers from Ophelia. Ophelia shrieks. Hamlet rips up the papers.

44:04 – Eerie music begins to play while Ophelia speaks.

47:16 – Music begins to play while the characters speak.

48:50 – The characters on stage clap loudly and encourage the audience to clap with them.

49:05 – Music begins to play. The lights dim.

49:50 – Hamlet speaks directly to some of the audience members, then enters the audience.

50:10 – The music intensifies.

50:30 – Hamlet yells. Other characters jump up froom their seats and yell “Give us lights!” causing a commotion on stage.

50:42 – The lights change, getting brighter.

50:55 – Music begins to play while the characters speak.

51:35 – Hamlet plays a high-pitched instrument.

51:55 – Two pairs of characters have two conversations that happen at the same time at full volume on either side of the stage.

52:30 – The lights change, getting dimmer.

54:38 – Hamlet draws a sword and raises it up, but does not strike.

55:52 – The lights change, getting brighter.

56:15 – Gertrude slaps Hamlet.

56:20 – Hamlet grabs Gertrude and throws her across the stage.

56:55 – Hamlet draws a dagger. Gertrude yells for help. Voices offstage also yell for help.

56:35 – Hamlet stabs a character through the curtains. It is Polonius. Polonius falls forward through the curtain.

57:12 – Hamlet pulls Gertrude across the stage.

58:10 – Hamlet pulls Gertrude’s necklace off of her.

58:30 – Hamlet slams his hand on the ground twice.

59:00 – A deep drum roll with wind begins as a ghost enters. The lights dim.

1:00:00 – The lights change, getting brighter.

1:01:35 – Voices off stage yell for Hamlet. The lights change.

1:01:47 – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern point swords at Hamlet.

1:04:25 – Ophelia jumps into Horatio’s arms.

1:05:11 – Eerie music begins to play.

1:06:12 – The sounds of voices shouting and swords clanging is heard.

1:06:22 – Laertes enters and draws a sword.

1:07:19 – Eerie music begins. Ophelia begins to sing from offstage.

1:09:35 – A voice shouts from offstage. The lights get brighter. Intense music begins.

1:13:15 – Eerie music begins to play.

1:14:19 – A gravedigger begins singing off stage. The lights change.

1:14:50 – Hamlet and Horatio enter through the audience as Hamlet speaks to the gravediggers. The gravedigger scratches the shovel against the stage.

1:15:40 – The gravedigger drops the shovel on the ground.

1:16:15 – Music begins.

1:16:35 – Hamlet and Horatio exit through the audience.

1:16:35 – Hamlet and Horatio re-enter through the audience.

1:16:38 – Laertes throws Hamlet to the ground. Laertes pushes Horatio. Laertes attacks Hamlet on the ground.

1:17:50 – Music plays.

1:21:16 – Trumpets sound. The lights change.

1:22:47 – Hamlet and Laertes begin a rapier fight. The rapiers clang and make metallic sounds.

1:24:30 – Laertes strikes at Hamlet. They fight more intensely. Hamlet stabs Laertes in the side. Gertrude faints.

1:25:45 – Hamlet stabs Claudius.

1:26:45 – A gong sounds.

1:27:08 – A gong sounds again. The lights dim.

1:27:50 – Eerie music begins. The lights change. The music intensifies.

1:28:18 – The lights go out. The play is over.

Timestamps are approximate.

Shakespeare & Company’s sensory-friendly and open-caption programming has been developed, in part, through the generous support of the GKV Foundation.

THE PLOT

It is the middle of a very cold night. Bernardo, a Danish soldier guarding the castle at Elsinore, relieves a fellow soldier on guard, Francisco. For two nights, Bernardo and another soldier, (Marcellus) have seen a ghost while on their watch.

They’ve asked Horatio, a student who’s returned from the University at Wittenberg, to join them and to confront it. The ghost appears again, and we discover that it is the recently deceased King Hamlet. It walks away without saying anything.

The ghost returns while they are talking and Horatio again tries to talk to it, but it leaves. They think the ghost might talk to Prince Hamlet, the king’s son.

Claudius addresses people in the castle. Although Denmark has been in mourning King Hamlet’s death, Claudius has become King and married the recently widowed Queen Gertrude.

King Claudius gives Laertes permission to return to school in France, but tells Hamlet not to return to school in Wittenberg. He also names Hamlet heir to the throne of Denmark, and Queen Gertrude convinces Hamlet to stay.

Alone, Hamlet shares his thoughts and feelings with the audience. Not only has his father recently died, but his mother has married his uncle.

Hamlet is interrupted by Marcellus and Horatio. They tell him of their encounter with the ghost of his father. Hamlet asks them to keep it a secret.

Leaving for France, Laertes says goodbye to his sister, Ophelia. He tells her not to trust Hamlet. Their father, Polonius, enters and has Laertes hurry to his ship, after giving him copious advice. He then asks Ophelia what she and her brother had been talking about. He is also concerned about Hamlet’s intentions towards her and forbids Ophelia from seeing or communicating with Hamlet, who promises to obey.

Hamlet joins Marcellus and Horatio, and shortly after their arrival, the ghost appears. It will not speak, but beckons Hamlet to follow. Marcellus and Horatio try to prevent Hamlet from going, but he leaves and tells Marcellus and Horatio not to follow him. They disobey and set out after him.

The ghost tells Hamlet that while everyone believes he died from a snake bite, his brother Claudius secretly poisoned him. The ghost leaves, asking Hamlet to remember him. Hamlet resolves to avenge his father’s death. Horatio and Marcellus enter, and Hamlet swears them to secrecy. He goes on to say he may even pretend to be insane.

A very frightened Ophelia enters and tells her father about a frightening encounter with Hamlet in her private quarters. Polonius thinks Hamlet has gone insane because of his love of Ophelia. He leaves with Ophelia to tell the king.

Claudius and Gertrude welcome Hamlet’s school friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They ask for their help to investigate the cause of Hamlet’s behavior. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree and exit.

Polonius and Claudius hide to spy on Ophelia and Hamlet. Hamlet wanders in reading a book. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and Hamlet gets them to admit they have been sent to visit him. They announce the coming of some travelling actors.

Polonius enters with the actors. Hamlet tests the ghost’s story of King Hamlet’s murder by watching Claudius watch the actors act out a similar story.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Claudius and Gertrude about their encounter with Hamlet, then leave. Polonius and Claudius ask Gertrude to leave and set up an encounter between Hamlet and Ophelia, so they can observe without being seen.

Hamlet enters and speaks to the audience. Ophelia enters, and Hamlet insults and yells at her. Polonius tells Claudius to have Gertrude confront Hamlet about his behavior, and Polonius will listen in.

As the performance begins, he asks Horatio to join him in observing Claudius’ reaction. The play begins and bears a remarkable resemblance to the events surrounding Hamlet’s father’s murder.

Claudius storms out of the performance.

Claudius attempts to pray for forgiveness; Hamlet discovers him praying.

Later in Gertrude’s bedroom, Polonius listens in secret while she and Hamlet argue. When he hears Polnius, Hamlet stabs him, not knowing whom he has killed.

The ghost re-appears to remind Hamlet of his mission. Gertrude does not see the ghost. Hamlet exits his mother’s room, dragging Polonius’ body with him.

Claudius reveals the secret to the audience that his letters to the King of England request the immediate death of Hamlet.

Hamlet encounters a Norwegian captain, and the army is passing through Denmark on its way to invade Poland.

Meanwhile, Ophelia sings songs and distributes flowers. Laertes, Polonius’ son, returns and He sees his sister’s breakdown. Claudius agrees to help Laertes seek revenge on Hamlet.

Some pirates arrive in Elsinore and give Horatio letters from Hamlet. We learn that Hamlet is on his way back to Elsinore. Hamlet has also sent letters to the King, who subsequently plots Hamlet’s death with Laertes.

As they plan to kill Hamlet and make it appear an accident, Gertrude arrives with news that Ophelia has drowned. Laertes is comforted only by the thought of his revenge on Hamlet.

Hamlet and Horatio enter, talk with a gravedigger. A funeral procession enters, including the King, the Queen, and Laertes.

A priest explains why the funeral service for Ophelia was abbreviated. Hamlet discovers that the corpse is Ophelia and fights with Laertes.

Osric, a courtier, arrives to tell Hamlet of a wager Claudius has placed on the outcome of a fencing match between him and Laertes. Hamlet agrees to it though Horatio expresses misgivings.

The fencing match begins, with the court in attendance. Hamlet apologizes to Laertes.

Laertes secretly selects a poisoned sword. Hamlet wins the first bout, and nervous that Laertes might be unable to hit Hamlet, Claudius drops a poisoned pearl into a cup of wine and offers it to Hamlet, who declines to drink.

Hamlet wins the second bout, and the Queen toasts Hamlet and drinks from the cup before Claudius can stop her. Laertes surprises Hamlet and wounds him with the poisoned sword.

Laertes and Hamlet fight, and in the scuffle, exchange swords. Hamlet wounds Laertes with the poison sword. Gertrude dies from the poisoned wine. Laertes, dying, confesses his treachery, blames the King and asks Hamlet for forgiveness. Hamlet wounds Claudius with the poisoned sword, and forces him to drink the poisoned wine.

The dying Hamlet asks Horatio to tell his story to the world but he instead attempts to join Hamlet in death. Fortinbras arrives with his army, takes charge, orders Hamlet’s body to be removed and honors him with cannons firing a salute.* Horatio speaks the last words of this version of the play.