Hamlet
Edited by Tarell and Bijan Sheibani specifically for younger audiences, the production follows the success of Young People's Shakespeare The Comedy of Errors.
Why see Hamlet?
Hamlet edited by Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bijan Sheibani.
Hamlet is a young man on the edge. His father's death was suspicious and his mother has hastily married his uncle, the man he suspects of murdering his father. Trapped in the claustrophobic court of Elsinore he must discover the truth and decide if he has a right to avenge his father.
RSC/CAPITAL International Playwright in Residence Tarell Alvin McCraney directs a new version of Hamlet. Edited by Tarell and Bijan Sheibani specifically for younger audiences, the production follows the success of Young People's Shakespeare The Comedy of Errors in 2009.
Hamlet will tour to schools in London in early 2010 before joining the repertoire in The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 1 May 2010.
Reviews
Customer reviews
KPC
Amazing and intense compression
A taut, tense and engrossing production with outstanding performances from all of the six cast members. Mark Arends is captivating as Hamlet and plays the role eloquently, finding new meaning
and emphasis in the lines . This is high energy, high emotion, physical expressionist theatre of a high order. The intensity always threatens to snap, but it is cleverly paced and contained. There are
some unexpected twists, eg , Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are subsumed into Laertes, and the 'play within the play', is given a completely new life.In the intimate space of Trafalgar Studio 2 the
audience is pulled into this storm twister of grief, poisoned loves, blood and psychosis. High risk, high octane theatre at its incendiary best, this is Hamlet stripped bare to its internal core. Serious
business. ... Read more
Anonymous
Under-powered cast put pressure on His Cumberbatchness
It is disconcerting seeing a Shakespearean drama in the Barbican, where, after all the 'no phones/photos' announcements and signs go out, a high-tech safety curtain opens to reveal an ernormous stage with a fantastic set, ceiling and all.
But I was mystified by the costume choices - somewhere between period/comtemporary/billy-the-butler blue coats and a world war II type warm room chic. Somewhere in there were some great ideas that just got lost.
And then there was the man of the moment - excellent all round I would say - but you could feel that he had to player striker, centre half, winger and goalkeeper for the team to keep it all moving.
Perhaps it was the cavaernous space on stage or just that all eyes were on Hamlet throughout, but it didn't feel like the rest of the cast stepped up to make this the oustanding performance it deserves to be. Shame.
On the plus side the audience were incredibly well behaved - not a phone or camera to be seen! More please! ... Read more
londoner
Pretty good
Some outstanding roles, but Hamlet was a bit too much of a pussy
and lacked conviction regarding his treatment of Ophelia. That
said, this is a tight production well delivered. ... Read more
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