Foreign and Commonwealth Office
After embarking on a two-year global tour of Hamlet aimed at taking this most popular play to every country in the world, Shakespeares Globe theatres artists finally arrived in Ashgabat and performed the play at the Alp Arslan national drama theatre on 14 November 2015.
The audience which ranged from students to professors, from government officials to ambassadors and even non-English speakers, packed the theatre to the rafters. Everyone was desperate to be a part of this once in a lifetime event. Due to its popularity the show had to be delayed by 15 minutes while as many people as possible were accommodated in the theatre. Eventually there was standing room only but all warmly welcomed the artists on stage with huge applause and at the finale with a standing ovation.
This was a rare opportunity to see Shakespeare performed in English in Turkmenistan by a leading UK Shakespearean company. The performance was organized in Ashgabat by the British Embassy, Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and Shakespeares Globe theatre based in London, with the support of companies Vitol, GAC Marine, Shell, Buried Hill, Mothercare Turkmenistan and Petrofac. Special thanks to the companies generous contribution that made this performance possible in the Turkmen capital.