National Theatre releases rehearsal photos for Hamlet

Exclusive: The National Theatre has released rehearsal photos for its new production of Hamlet, heading to the Lyttelton Theatre stage this autumn as part of Indhu Rubasingham‘s inaugural season as the venue’s new director.

Olivier Award winner Hiran Abeysekera takes on the title role, directed by Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge), the venue’s deputy artistic director. Joining him in the cast are Phil Cheadle as Marcellus, Ayesha Dharker as Gertrude, Tom Glenister as Laertes, Hari Mackinnon as Rosencrantz, Francesca Mills as Ophelia, Alistair Petrie as Claudius, Siobhán Redmond as First Player, Geoffrey Streatfeild as Polonius, Joe Bolland as Guildenstern, Phil Cheadle as Marcellus, Ryan Ellsworth as Ghost, Mary Higgins as Osric, Liz Jadav as Nurse, Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer as Fortinbras, Sophia Papadopolous as Cornelius, Seb Slade as Francisco, Noel White as Bernardo and Tessa Wong as Horatio.

Hastie is joined in the creative team by set and costume designer Ben Stones, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound designer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, composer Richard Taylor, movement director Ira Mandela Siobhan, fight director Kate Waters, casting directors Alastair Coomer and Martin Poile and associate director Georgie Staight.

Hamlet will run at the Lyttelton Theatre from 25 September to 22 November 2025, with a press night set for 2 October. It will also be filmed for a global National Theatre Live release, which will take place from 22 January 2026.

Listen to a free exclusive WhatsOnStage Podcast about the season here:

See the photos below:

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