Bristol Old Vic: Hamlet

Including theatrically exclusive stage talk with Director John Haidar joined by Emma Smith, professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford and author of the Sunday Times bestseller This is Shakespeare.

Hamlet's father is dead. His mother has remarried. He is alone with his thoughts. Then, he speaks. Haunted by grief, and with his world spinning violently out of control, Hamlet has to make some decisions: forget or remember; live or die.

Rising star Billy Howle (The Serpent; Under the Banner of Heaven; On Chesil Beach) returns to Bristol Old Vic to play the title role. This visceral new production directed by John Haidar (Richard III) excavates the dark subconscious of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. The cast also features theatrical heavyweights including Mirren Mack (The Nest; NT’s Small Island) as Ophelia and Niamh Cusack (RSC’s Macbeth; NT’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime & My Brilliant Friend) as Gertrude.

Running time: 180 mins including 10 min interval and 20 min stage talk.

“Shadowy, impressionistic...Howle injects [Hamlet] with a sense of purpose and action” - The Stage

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