Connectivity: “Grand Theft Hamlet”

In the SXSW, Grierson, and British Independent Film Award-winning Grand Theft Hamlet (2024), actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen find themselves out of work when theaters shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertain about their futures, they turn to the virtual space of Grand Theft Auto Online, embarking on the improbable project of casting and producing a live staging of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet within the game’s chaotic landscape. Directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, the documentary is comprised entirely of in-game footage, with all of the subjects depicted by their online avatars. The film chronicles the challenges of mounting theater in an unconventional space—from scouting locations and coordinating auditions with players around the globe to navigating rehearsal conflicts—while also capturing unexpected moments of connection during a period of global isolation. Both a celebration of the creative possibilities shared by theater, video games, and cinema, and a poignant reflection on the artistic process, Grand Theft Hamlet explores the enduring human need for connection through art.

Please note: This event will not feature a screening of the documentary. The format for this event will be a live discussion between filmmakers Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, and moderator Miguel Penabella (Carsey-Wolf Center, UCSB). They will discuss the making of Grand Theft Hamlet, and the process of casting, producing, rehearsing, and staging a live production of Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto Online. Patrons may choose to watch the film in advance of this discussion via MUBI, which offers a special sixty day student membership trial (and a seven day non-student membership trial), but advance viewing of the film will not be necessary to appreciate the discussion.

This event is presented in conjunction with the UCSB Library exhibition Infinite Variety: The Many Lives of Shakespeare’s Texts.