Bard on the Beach announces casting change for Hamlet and Twelfth Night in final month of festival, to September 21
The scheduled shift sees Chirag Naik take over for Nadeem Phillip Umar Khitab in the tragedy, and the role of Valentine in the comedy
Chirag Naik.
STILL RUNNING UNTIL September 21, Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival has announced a planned casting change for both Hamlet and Twelfth Night.
Beginning September 1, the titular role in Hamlet will be played by Chirag Naik, who is replacing Nadeem Phillip Umar Khitab. Naik will also be taking over the role of Valentine in Twelfth Night.
Naik, who has appeared in past Bard shows, will bring a new interpretation to the roles. The change is due to the timing of an existing contract of Khitab’s.
In Stephen Drover’s gutsy production of Hamlet, there are omnipresent paparazzi, dance interludes, and kaleidoscopic lights. “In Drover’s hands, this modern-day adaptation of Hamlet becomes emotionally accessible without sacrificing the classic’s enduring impact, and even brings some new, darkly comedic flourishes out to play,” writes Stir theatre critic Angie Rico.
Twelfth Night, directed by Diana Donnelly, meanwhile, has a reimagined circus setting and a pitch-perfect cast that digs into the production’s tomfoolery, original songs, and carnival whimsy.
Find tickets and more season information here. 
Related Articles
