Coco Zhang ’26 acts in Jane Su’s senior theater thesis Hamletmachine #2026

My senior theater thesis Hamletmachine #2026 requires precision in props—a collection of objects tied to the ensemble performers’ family and political histories. The adaptation thus lives at the intersection of the personal and the historical.

The Makerspace was instrumental in this process. My team and I were looking for a replica of Lenin’s head in bronze, but the performer who had a personal association with it couldn’t bring one from home, and we couldn’t find one online. David from the Makerspace helped with modeling, adjustments, 3D printing, and we discussed types of paint that would adhere to the resultant PLA printed head. Ultimately, I used a metallic bronze acrylic paint as a post-processing medium to transform the white plastic head into a vivid and almost iridescent sculptural replica of Lenin’s head for the show.

Production

Diliara Sadykova ’26, Saumya Shinde ’26, Coco Zhang ’26 (left to right) act in Jane Su’s senior theater thesis: Hamletmachine #2026.

Various props, including the 3D-printed Lenin sculptural head, in Jane Su’s senior theater thesis Hamletmachine #2026

Despite being a STEM-oriented space, the Makerspace proved to be a powerful platform for supporting art-making on campus.

The Williams Record: A Beautiful Opacity: Senior thesis Hamletmachine #2026 takes the stage (March 18, 2026 – by Cate Stetson ’29)

Post-Performance Discussion

Post-performance discussion between the producer and cast of Hamletmachine #2026 and the ’62 Center audience