ALT B: Hamlet, A 70s Tragedy

‘One may smile and smile and be a villain.’

When the leader of a 1970s commune dies under suspicious circumstances, his daughter Hamlet seeks to avenge his death. But something is rotten within The Family, and although the commune is outwardly utopian, the predominantly female community grows more restricted by their Divine leader.

Marking the return of Compass Collective to the Bush, this striking reimagining of Hamlet places women at the centre of the story. Examining cult dynamics, patriarchal structures, and the illusion of empowerment.

This framing amplifies the theme of Courage, the official theme of Refugee Week 2026. Many refugees show immense courage when they leave behind their homes and familiar culture, having to make painful decisions to protect themselves. They choose survival even when the future is unclear and, like Hamlet, they act not out of fearlessness, but because doing nothing is more dangerous.