Another Big Hamlet: John Simm Stars in Sheffield

As previously tipped (See The Goss, 8 Dec 2009), John Simm will return to the stage in 2010 to star in yet-another high-profile Hamlet – though not in London, at least initially. The production, which will reunite Simm with director Paul Miller, will open at Sheffield Crucible in September 2010.

Best known for his TV credits in the likes of Life on Mars, Doctor Who (alongside David Tennnant), State of Play and The Devil’s Whore, Simm made his stage debut in 1996 in Goldhawk Road at the Bush, where he returned to star in Elling – directed by Paul Miller – in 2007. The comedy subsequently transferred to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios 1 and Simm was nominated for Best Actor at both the Whatsonstage.com and Olivier Awards for his performance. He’s currently in the West End in Speaking in Tongues, which finishes its limited season at the Duke of York’s Theatre tomorrow, Saturday 12 December.

An associate director at Sheffield Theatres, Paul Miller will also direct Sam Shepard’s True West at the Crucible, running from 18 May to 5 June 2010 (previews from 13 May) as part of Daniel Evans’ inaugural season as the theatres’ new artistic director (See News, 23 Sep 2009). Miller’s many other credits include Baby Girl/DNA/The Miracle, The Enchantment, The History Boys, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads, The Associate and Total Eclipse (which starred Evans at the Menier Chocolate Factory).

No other casting, creative details or precise dates have yet been announced for Sheffield Hamlet. However, after the Hamlet head-to-head this past year between David Tennant (care of the Royal Shakespeare Company) and Jude Law (via Donmar West End), this new production has created another Great Dane clash.

Though, again, exact dates haven’t yet been confirmed, Rory Kinnear will also give us his Hamlet in late 2010, with the long-planned National Theatre production, directed by NT artistic director Nicholas Hytner, forming part of next year’s eighth annual £10 Season in the NT Olivier (See News, 22 Sep 2008).

In other Sheffield news, full casting has been announced for the Antony Sher-led revival of Ibsen’s 1882 classic An Enemy of the People, which is directed by Daniel Evans and both launches the Olivier Award-winning actor’s tenure as artistic director and reopens the after a two-year, £15.3 million renovation (See News, 23 Sep 2009).

In An Enemy of the People, it’s boom town in a spa town, where visitor numbers are higher than ever and the pay-off is huge. But Dr Tomas Stockmann (Sher) knows the toxic secret underlying the town’s newfound wealth. If he’s concerned for the health of the people, how can he be their enemy?

Sher will be joined by Whatsonstage.com Award nominee John Shrapnel (as Peter Stockmann), Lucy Cohu (coincidentally, currently appearing in the West End alongside Simm in Speaking in Tonques – as Katrine Stockmann), Roger Bingham (Morten Kiil), Susannah Fielding (Petra Stockmann), Trystan Gravelle (Hovstad), Philip Joseph (Aslaken), Charles McClury (Mr Vik), Brodie Ross (Billing) and Chook Sibtain (Horster), as well as Daniel Poyser, Alex Blake and Chris Brailsford.

The production is designed by Ben Stones, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and music and sound by Ben and Max Ringham. An Enemy of the People runs from 17 February to 20 March 2010 (previews form 11 February).