Location: Whidbey Island, WA

Island Shakespeare Festival presents: Shakespeare in a Backpack: Happy Hour Hamlet
a playful retelling of Hamlet like you’ve never seen before! Two guards patrolling the grounds of Elsinore Castle meet for an after-shift beverage to compare notes on Shakespeare’s arguably most famous work. Featuring dazzling performances of the seven iconic Hamlet  monologues, clever contemporary comedic banter, and even a fight scene, this 45-minute show will delight and inform both the newest theatergoer and the Classics fanatic!

This will be the second year of ISF’s touring program, Shakespeare in a Backpack. Last year, the pilot program visited fourteen venues across Whidbey Island, and featured ISF’s first main land performance in Everett.  Roughly 500 audience members were reached in 2025 and ISF looks forward to spreading Shakespeare and smiles to even more Washingtonians in 2026!

This event will take place at various venues in Clinton, Langley, Freeland, Coupeville and Oak Harbor.  Book in advance  or pay-what-you-will at the door. See dates at: islandshakespearefest.org

Ever wonder what’s happening this weekend on Whidbey Island? Check out Whidbey Telecom Calendar of Events for more family fun around the island.