Study on the Symbolism of Hamlet’s Disappearance Shown in Ong Keng Sen’s Search:Hamlet

Ong Keng Sen's 2002 production Search: Hamlet differs qualitatively from Shakespeare's Hamlet. It lacks the Hamlet theme, fundamentally deconstructing the original work and reimagining it as a dance drama. From the very act of casting actors without racial distinction, Ong strives for globalization. He deliberately avoids the attention focused on Hamlet on English-speaking stages. The yearning and anguish expressed by the supporting actors on stage symbolize the conflicts and tragedies of marginalized people who go unnoticed in the real world. Through these supporting actors' stories, the audience is able to see the world from diverse perspectives. The metaphor of Ong's yearning for peace through the disappearance of Hamlet, though not direct, is implicit and noteworthy. His directing style is a comprehensive artistic expression necessary for our times, and will be remembered as a gesture of fervent longing for peace in the unstable international arena of the 21st century, plagued by constant war.