Gossip

Irish Hamlet Receives Palpable Hit???

The audience at a recent Irish production of Hamlet got a shock when they discovered that a wound inflicted on the lead actor during the climactic duel was real. Conor Madden received a gash beneath the eye and subsequently collapsed during the performance at Cork’s Everyman Palace Theatre on Monday (21 March 2011). Theatregoers initially thought it was part of the action, but the company’s artistic director Alan Stanford walked on stage to confirm that the hit was indeed palpable. Madden missed yesterday’s two performances but has reportedly made a full recovery and is expected to return to action this evening (23 March). The production, which is directed by Aoife Spillane-Hinks for Second Age theatre company, continues at the Everyman until Friday.