Reader Reviews
Hamlet (Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | A popular Hamlet for Dr Who fans but certainly not a great production. David Tennant is a good actor (prefer his comic roles and in my opinion was much better in Love's Labours Lost) but he would not have received these rave reviews had it not been for the TV show. But it's brought a new audiance to the theatre which in its self is a good thing. - Rosie | 29 Oct 08 |
| Certainly a good Hamlet - great? hm - not quite. For me, Tennant lacks the introspection needed in the sane parts. Some very good work though and excellent cast including that rarest of things a believable Ophelia. Well worth seeing - but probably not worth all the hype. But - well done to the RSC and to David Tennant for introducing new people to Shakespeare (certainly a few the night I saw this) - let's hope they come back again. - Welthorpe | 10 Oct 08 |
| I'll be the first to admit that I'm a huge David Tennant fan, not only do I love Doctor Who but I've watched most of his other performances as well, so I had high expectations when I went to go and see Hamlet on Tuesday. Believe me when I say I was extremely happy to find that my expectations were met and exceeded! The entire play was amazingly done, especially the beginning when they got the reflections from the torches to illuminate each others faces, that was amazingly done! Patrick Stewart was captivating, and seemed to be able to pull of this fascinating character so easily, his final scene with Hamlet was great and to see the two of them on stage was a dream come true. The play managed to get the right balance between comedy and tragedy, and they got the right actors for each part. David is just so energetic, and it's great to see him bounding around the stage. I would recommend this to everyone! I'm studying Hamlet for A-level, and I just know I'm going to enjoy it a lot more now then I would have previously. A truly wonderful performance. - Sarah | 25 Sep 08 |
| It was my daughter's first Hamlet and she and I both loved it - a very clear, uncluttered production, often bringing new meaning to familiar speeches. Acting was superb throughout, even in the samller parts. We felt that David Tennant made a totally believable Hamlet and the supporting cast was tremendous. Oliver Ford Davies was in his element as Polonius and was superb and Mariah Gale brought tears to my eyes in the mad scene - I have seen many Hamlet's over the years where this scene has been too contrived and unnatural, but not as performed in this production - Mariah Gale never disappoints in anything she does. Lovely to see Penny Downie and Patrick Stewart back where they belong - on the stage at Stratford, showing what fine actors they both are. Stayed on for the talk with the cast afterwards - the omissions made sense when they talked about them in open discussion. - Roger Harris | 06 Sep 08 |
| Stunning. Tennant and Stewart are as good as expected. Ford is amazing and almost steals the show. Downie a revelation and her costumes are fantastic (in one she appears surroundedby a pool of fresh blood). At first I did thing DT was playing Hamlet as Dr Who but then it dawned on me - he plays Dr Who as though he is Hamlet. What a skilled performer. See it! - Fulcrum | 02 Sep 08 |
| This is a very fine production of Hamlet. The simplicity of the staging helped to allow the actors to really deliver their roles with great strength. Fine support from Mariah Gale, Penny Downie, Patrick Stewart and particularly the brilliant Oliver Ford Davies as Polonius, I thoroughly enjoyed this production. David Tennant is very good if not yet a great Hamlet though that might change as the months pass. He plays the comedy very well with great timing. Great to have him back at the RSC. Can't wait to see it again in London - Paul Wallis | 19 Aug 08 |
| This is a very cheap looking, superficial version of the play. I was left so unimpressed by it, I nearly left in the interval. Luckily it was saved by the wonderful performances of the actresses playing both Ophelia and Gertrude. Doran's staging is very gimmicky, he works very hard to make it relevant, but more trust in the text would have been a better option. There was a pick and mix approach to ideas that have graced other recent RSC productions too - it seemed that Doran had run out of ideas and used the current Taming of the Shrew and his Antony and Cleopatra and his Coriolanus to fill the gaps. It is more frustrating as the basic elements were there, but did not hang together. - Tom | 18 Aug 08 |
| I saw this on 2nd Aug and loved every minute. From the moment DT walks on in a suit and is strong and silent, through his "madness" - using his hair to great effect in showing his insanity, and his calm return in the funeral scene. His barefoot appearances give an element of vulnerability to the character, especially in the scene in his mother's room. Also to be noted is his huge energy - leaping around, running on and off stage, but also being calm or grief stricken in other scenes. Was slightly disappointed by Patrick Stewart but maybe it is just that DT totally owns the stage and surpasses the other performances. Ophelia was quite lovely and also very brave with her stripping, which was performed appropriately. It reminded me how much I love Shakespeare and now gives me reason to see more!! - Andrea | 12 Aug 08 |
| Only 4 stars from me ..so far. DT could get the fifth by the end of the run if he deepens his performance. Nice to keep the youngsters engaged and this prod should do that but what about the tough stuff, the 'readiness is all' eh? I saw the Warner Hamlet all those years a go and I think agree that the RSC hasn't produced anything like the good hamlets it should have in between that and this. Greg Doran always reads the play properly, always has a good idea or two and the dumb show here is a master stroke. - Lynette | 11 Aug 08 |
| Hate to sound a sour note, but didn't find this as great as everyone else has done. It's fast-paced and the Dr Who fans will get what they've gone for (lots of goggle-eyed over-acting in my opinion), but it's a very superficial, unthreatening rendition of Hamlet. All surface and no heart. Sorry (and I greatly admire Greg Doran, and a pre-Dr Who David Tennant. He was a thousand times better in Look Back in Anger than he is in this!) - citycat | 10 Aug 08 |
| This is a sensational production, easily the best Hamlet I've ever seen, and my teenage son was completely enthralled from start to finish. The standing ovation at the end was well deserved. Bravo to the entire cast, especially David Tennant, and to Greg Doran, who is easily the finest director of Shakespeare today. Give that man a gong! - Bev Lawrence | 10 Aug 08 |
| It felt like the entire audience took in a big breath at the first scene and didn't let it out until 3 1/2 hours later - to thunderous applause. It was absolutely stunning. Best production I've seen of the play by far. - Michelle Lang | 05 Aug 08 |
| Best RSC production of Hamlet since David Warner played the Dane - and that was over 40 years ago! Stunning production full of energy, youth, and spectable. Brilliant!!! - Maryrose Merritt | 04 Aug 08 |
| Always been a bit dubious about "modern dress" productions of Shakespeare, but this is as good as the Old Vic Richard II with Kevin Spacey. Apart from the excellent Tennant & Stewart, Penny Downie and Mariah Gale are terrific, and Oliver Ford Davies was born to play Polonius. Strong Horatio, Grave-digger & Rosencrantz and Guildenstern too. - Aine Neary | 03 Aug 08 |
