It can be assumed that Shakespeare wrote his plays, with the intention of making those who read and viewed them feel seen. For centuries he’s made us laugh, he’s made us cry, and most importantly…he’s made us question. But as time moves onward, and our societies change, how does Shakespeare continue to stay relevant? Fat Ham continues this legacy by bringing the structure and elements of Shakespeare’s Hamlet into the 21st century.

Fat Ham tells the story of Juicy, a young, queer black man trying to understand who he is and where his place is in the world. As if that is not hard enough, he is also dealing with the grappling reality that he may have to kill his uncle to avenge his father’s death. Even crazier, his father has been appearing to him as a ghost. Sound familiar? While Fat Ham and Hamlet are two very different shows from two vastly different periods, their messaging is one and the same. By taking one of Shakespeare’s greatest works and diversifying it, James Ijames has given powerful representation to the black queer community.

Despite the strides that we have made as a society, there is still so much work to be done. The black queer community is one that is often overlooked, and underrepresented. Fat Ham proves that the word “classic” doesn’t have to mean “forever the same”. In fact, the word classic is defined as “a work of art of recognized and established value”. What could be more valuable than telling a story that makes one feel seen and represented?

Evolution is inevitable, and the truest way to stay relevant is to continue to change with the times. Shakespeare’s work has remained so well respected because artists like James Ijames saw what it could be, rather than focusing on what it already was. Why can’t the setting be the American South, as opposed to a kingdom in Denmark? Who’s to say that Hamlet can’t be a young, queer black man named Juicy? And instead of giving into the violence…what if this Hamlet-like character was trying to break the generational cycle?

The world of theatre is no stranger to the idea of art imitating life. But to accurately imitate life, we must strive to represent all that makes up our society. Hopefully, those who come to experience this production of Fat Ham will feel positively represented. Because, without the beautiful faces of black and queer patrons this show would be nothing. And neither would the world of theatre.