The coolest thing about theatre is that big budgets are irrelevant when a cast has the essential ingredient: heart. For the most part, this production by Globe Shakespeare in a wind-storm-battered Bondi Pavilion pulls off Hamlet magic worthy of a much larger and more expensive venue.

The story is of hero and anti-hero Hamlet (Lee Biolos) who is floundering in the aftermath of “murder most rank and foul”. His father, the king of Denmark (Paul Bertram) was killed with poison by his brother, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius (also played by Paul Betram) who then weds Hamlet’s mother(Lisa Peers). When the ghost of Hamlet’s father asks his son to avenge these deeds, Hamlet’s despair at his own weakness and the dishonesty in the royal home around him drives him to all kinds of madness and soul-searching.

Any group attempting Hamlet deserves credit at the outset – even with the ominous atmospheric assistance by Mother Nature whistling through the theatre, the initial scenes were pretty rusty. The visitation by the ghost of the king, though cleverly choreographed, was a little unconvincing; Hamlet’s first monologue a little worrying; Claudius’s delivery a little wooden and way too fast. Things got progressively better though, in a very physical and deliberate performance of this unsettling tragedy, and crescendoed into an awesome three-hours. Most of it was thanks to a charismatic Hamlet, who by his third monologue has the audience in the palm of his hand, but it was also the very palpable chemistry between all the actors.

The casting choices were excellent, especially an appropriately dorky Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Nicholas Gledhill and Simon Cornell), Hamlet’s love interest, a porcelain-doll-like Ophelia (Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood), Hamlet’s mother and strong supporting hero Laertes (Marcello Fabrizi). Anthony Hunt’s huge stage presence was riveting, stealing the show his minor roles as First Player and Osric.

Tom Bannerman’s clever set consisted of a three-block platform (attached to the floor by a set of rails), which the actors could slide across the floor into various positions to form a hilltop, a grave, a second stage and a battlefield. There was continually impressive movement around the stage too, especially the final fatal showdown between Hamlet and Laertes.

Whether you dig Shakespeare at his best, have a hankering for cool sword fights or explorations of the meaning of life death and human weakness, this is worthwhile eventide investment.

Hamlet plays at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre until 9 April 2005, staged by the Shakespeare Globe Centre Australia.