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Hamlet

William Shakespeare

|

1600

“When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.”

Considered to be one of the greatest tragedies of all time, Shakespeare’s tale of murder and revenge is brought to life in this critically acclaimed and visually striking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Simon Godwin's fresh retelling, set in an unnamed African state, sees Paapa Essiedu shine in the title role, becoming the first Black actor to play Hamlet for the RSC.

Production photography by Manuel Harlan © RSC

Produced by

Zoë Donegan

Directed by

Simon Godwin

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Reviews

Four stars

The Stage

"Essiedu’s Hamlet is a fresh prince, confident, cocky, compelling, hopping from foot to foot, fizzing like an aerosol can."
Four stars

The Times

"It is an utterly engaging performance by Paapa Essiedu."

Cast & creative team

Characters

Hamlet

Paapa Essiedu
Gertrude

Tanya Moodie
Claudius

Clarence Smith
Player Queen

Cyril Nri
Laertes

Marcus Griffiths
Ophelia

Natalie Simpson
Horatio

Hiran Abeysekera
Rosencrantz

James Cooney
Guildenstern

Bethan Cullinane
Fortinbras

Theo Ogundipe
Marcellus

Theo Ogundipe
Barnardo

Kevin N. Golding
Player King

Kevin N. Golding
Francisca

Temi Wilkey
Gravedigger's Assistant

Temi Wilkey
Player Queen

Doreene Blackstock
Osric

Romayne Andrews
Sailor

Romayne Andrews
Professor of Wittenberg

Byron Mondahl
English Ambassador

Byron Mondahl
Voltemand

Eke Chukwu
Cornelia

Marième Diouf
Player

Marième Diouf
Player

Temi Wilkey
Hamlet's Father, the Ghost

Ewart James Walters
Gravedigger

Ewart James Walters
Lucianus

Theo Ogundipe
Captain

Kevin N. Golding
Priest

Kevin N. Golding

Team

William Shakespeare

Writer
Simon Godwin

Stage Director
Robin Lough

Screen Director
Sola Akingbola

Composer
Paul Wills

Designer
Paul Anderson

Lighting Designer
Christopher Shutt

Sound Designer
Mbulelo Ndabeni

Movement Director
Kevin McCurdy

Fight Director
Kate Godfrey

Company Voice and Text Work
Anna Girvan

Assistant Director
Carl Root

Production Manager
Laura Hunt

Costume Supervisor
Edward Salt

Stage Manager
Zoë Donegan

Producer
John Wyver

Producer, Live from Stratford-upon-Avon
Bruce O'Neil

Music Director
Hannah Miller CDG

Casting Director
Jon Nicholls

Music Associate
Jondon

Company Manager
George Hims

Deputy Stage Manager
Hetti Curtis

Assistant Stage Manager