Hamlet
Gyles Brandreth makes Hamlet a truly family affair
Hamlet
Gyles Brandreth makes a return to serious acting in Simon Evan's haunting production
Hamlet
Gyles Brandreth makes Hamlet a truly family affair
Why see Hamlet?
Gyles Brandreth makes Hamlet a family affair
The broadcaster/comic/ex-MP-Edinburgh-winner/talking head/Countdown king with the impeccable suits and cut-glass geniality is headed to the Park Theatre this summer - in one of Shakespeare's most famous dramas. Once booed off-stage during a disastrous early attempt at playing Hamlet, the irrepressible Gyles Brandreth is ready to reprise the role - in a special short version of the Bard's play aimed for children. Joined by his son Benet Brandreth and daughter-in-law Kosha Engler, this family affair provides a new take on the Danish prince, with direction by Simon Evans (Arturo Ui, The Dazzle, A Midsummer Night's Dream)
This version of Hamlet is stripped to its core and highlights the claustrophobic intensity at this rather tense family gathering. A departure from his usual upbeat stage shows such as the 2014 Looking For Happiness and his regular one-man shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, Brandreth's return to the London stage as Hamlet will be as different as it gets!
Key Information
Audience
Suitable for ages 10
Run Time
90 minutes with no interval
Dates
Finished 16 Sep 2017
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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