Hamlet

Synopsis

Written between 1599 and 1601. The play, set in Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father, the King, and then taken the throne and married Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness - from overwhelming grief to seething rage - and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.

Our Review:

Karen Bussell - 10 March 2011

Rory Kinnear deserves that Olivier on Sunday for his exceptional, human, hoodie-wearing Hamlet.

The National Theatre On Tour’s superb production portrays Hamlet as a typical mercurial youngster overwhelmed by the mounting pressures of dead father, tyrannical step-father, stymied studies, lost girlfriend, fickle friends and weak, alcoholic mother. His descent into despair, political madness and calculated subversive behaviour is made understandable by his excellent timing and nuances brought to even the well-worn soliloquies.

This is a fathomable young prince of the people Hamlet whose complex character is thrown open for all to see and understand (particularly those of us with close experience of teenagers).

Director Nicholas Hytner’s piece is set in a modern day police state under threat from neighbouring countries. There are jets overhead, patrolling armed guards and ear-pieced surveillance men everywhere. Big Brother is watching – whether that is the v...

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