Hamlet
Hamletbatch is excellently acted, beautiful and satisfyingly accessible enough for the layman, but self-referential so as not to scare the seasoned Shakespeare fan.
Hamlet
Cumberbatch admirers can take heart, his female devotees are entitled to swoon: in this trial of his acting strength, he emerges, unquestionably, victorious.
The Telegraph
Hamlet
Hamletbatch is excellently acted, beautiful and satisfyingly accessible enough for the layman, but self-referential so as not to scare the seasoned Shakespeare fan.
Why see Hamlet?
FROM SHERLOCK TO SHAKESPEARE'S PRINCE!
Sherlock Holmes star, Benedict Cumberbatch, is currently leading the Barbican Theatre's highly-anticipated production of Hamlet. The Olivier-winning stage and screen star has taken up the mantle at the Barbican to play the brooding Dane in this exciting new play which sees Ciaran Hinds as his arch-nemesis, Claudius.
Cumberbatch shared the Best Actor Olivier Award in 2012 for his role in Frankenstein. He was also nominated for an Olivier Award for his supporting role in the West End production of Hedda Gabler, and appeared in the acclaimed film adaptation of War Horse as well as the multi-Oscar winning film 12 Years a Slave, The Hobbit series and Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Tickets for this sold-out are still available if you book a theatre break - available here ►
WHAT IS hamlet ABOUT?
One of Shakespeare's best known tragedies, the story set in Denmark where the title character plans his revenge against the uncle who murdered his father, before usurping the throne for himself.After a period of self-imposed exile, the dispossessed prince makes his return from the shadows, consumed by grief and a lust for revenge against the man who betrayed him.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cumberbatch won't have been the only Sherlock star to tread the boards in a Shakespeare play in the 2014/15 season - his co-star Martin Freeman (the ever-reliable John Watson), took on the lead in Jamie Lloyd's new Richard III at the Trafalgar Studio earlier this summer!
Key Information
Audience
May not be suitable for younger audiences - recommended for ages 12+
Run Time
To be confirmed by producers
Dates
Finished 31 Oct 2015
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet
Leo Bill as Horatio
Sian Brooke as Ophelia
Anastasia Hille as Gertrude
Ciaran Hinds as Claudius
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Laertes
Jim Norton as Polonius
Soldier: Barry Aird
Danish Captain / Servant: Eddie Arnold
Servant / Cornelius: Nigel Carrington
Player King: Ruairi Conaghan
Guildenstern: Rudi Dharmalingam
Priest / Messenger: Colin Haigh
Official: Paul Ham
Player Queen / Messenger: Diveen Henry
Ghost of Hamlet's Father: Karl Johnson
Official: Amaka Okafor
Creative
Directed by Lyndsey Turner
Set Design by Es Devlin
Costume Design by Katrina Lindsay
Video Design by Luke Halls
Lighting Design by Jane Cox
Music by John Hopkins
Sound Design by Christopher Shutt
Movement by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Reviews
Our review
Manic Frenzied perfection
Mired in early controversy, what with certain newspapers not understanding what a preview period is, and certain overzealous fans invoking the ire of Cumberbatch himself when they didn't follow basic theatre etiquette and refrain from whipping their iPho
Kitty Mccarron
Customer reviews
1 reviews, average rating: (3.5 Stars)
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
News
NEWS, TICKETS, THEATRE & MORE
"Broadway and show news straight to your inbox!"
Read how we protect your data .