Hamlet
Following acclaimed performances in Burnt By The Sun, The Revenger's Tragedy, Philistines and The Man Of Mode for the National Theatre, now Rory Kinnear gives audiences his Hamlet.
Why see Hamlet?
Shakespeare's most famous role, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, vows to take revenge on his uncle, whom he believes murdered his father before marrying his mother. But his own melancholy, fear and rage causes the prince to procrastinate...
In addition to his credits for the National Theatre, Kinnear has been seen on stage in Measure For Measure at the Almeida theatre, Mary Stuart at the Donmar Warehouse and Festen at the Lyric. His screen appearances include Quantum Of Solace, The Long Walk To Finchley and Cranford.
Kinnear is directed in Hamlet by Nicholas Hytner, the Artistic Director of the National Theatre.
Show Times
Show Times: 13:30, 14:00, 18:00 & 19:00 - In repKey Information
Run Time
3 hours 35 mins including intermission.
Dates
Finished 26 Jan 2011
Cast
Rory Kinnear
Matthew Barker
David Calder
Marcus Cunningham
Jake Fairbrother
Clare Higgins
Ferdinand Kingsley
Alex Lanipekun
James Laurenson
Patrick Malahide
Ruth Negga
James Pearse
Saskia Portway
Victor Power
Prasanna Puwanarajah
Nick Sampson
Michael Sheldon
Leo Staar
Zara Tempest-Walters
Giles Terera
Ellis Turner
Matthew Barker
David Calder
Marcus Cunningham
Jake Fairbrother
Clare Higgins
Ferdinand Kingsley
Alex Lanipekun
James Laurenson
Patrick Malahide
Ruth Negga
James Pearse
Saskia Portway
Victor Power
Prasanna Puwanarajah
Nick Sampson
Michael Sheldon
Leo Staar
Zara Tempest-Walters
Giles Terera
Ellis Turner
Creative
Author: William Shakespeare
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Sound: Paul Groothuis
Lighting Designer: Jon Clark
Designer: Vicki Mortimer
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Sound: Paul Groothuis
Lighting Designer: Jon Clark
Designer: Vicki Mortimer
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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