Shakespeare and just war
a theatrical presentation
Shakespeare and Just War
part of the Shakespeare 400 commemorations





At the end of the commemorations in The Hague of Shakespeare’s death 400 years ago a unique and major theatrical presentation on Shakespeare and War, will take place in the Theater aan het Spui in The Hague. This presentation has been brought together by Tom Dommisse, Shakespeare scholar and philosopher. The commemorations in The Hague are very much linked to the themes the City of Peace and Justice carries. The Hague is the second UN city and was described by former Secretary General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Gali as the Legal Capital of the World. Many world conflicts are brought before the courts and tribunals based in the Hague, in search of finding fair and just solutions and decisions on war crimes and actions. The Hague is the only city in which law and drama can be combined in such a way with Shakespeare as an intermediate.
This theatrical presentation is also part of the programme of the Haagse Vrijheidsweken.
The presentation will be co-hosted and opened by the British ambassador to the Netherlands, Sir Geoffrey Adams.
Keynote speaker is Judge Theodor Meron, president of the Mechanisms of International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) in The Hague. President Meron, author of Henry’s Wars and Shakespeare’s Laws (Oxford University Press, 1993) and Bloody Constraint: War and Chivalry in Shakespeare (Oxford University Press, 1998) will speak on Shakespeare and Just War: Henry V in France.
His speech will be illustrated with specially selected scenes from Shakespeare’s plays Henri V, VI, Richard IIand others, performed by highly acclaimed Dutch Shakespeare actors Gijs Scholten van Aschat and Pierre Bokma (with English surtitles).
Moderator Henriette Koomans, guest lecturer on Shakespeare and Leadership at MIT Sloan (Boston Massachusettes USA) will include the audience in the discussion to follow.
Participating artists in the Shakespeare 400 programme will be present to be called upon in support of the discussion:
– Meher Debbich Awachri, artistic leader of the Tunisian troupe performing Hamlet
– Ninke Overbeek, Dutch playwright of the reading on Shakespeare: six men and women
– Henry Everett, artistic leader Infinite Jest , British Youth theatre company, performing Macbeth (7+)
On behalf of the British Embassy, members of the audience are invited for a drink after the event in the hall of the Theater aan het Spui to meet with the speakers and participants in an informal setting. There will be the possibility to purchase signed copies of the books published by some of the speakers and participants.






We like to thank Theater aan het Spui for co-operating with STET in this presentation.
