With Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet coming to the Dukes this month, it’s a great time to revisit the play supposedly named after Shakespeare’s son. But aside from the namesake, of course, HamLet has little to do with HamNet, and this new production also has a much different vibe from Zhao’s heart-wrenching drama. This Hamlet, believe it or not, is a bundle of laughs. 

Director Robert Hastie, deputy artistic director of the National Theatre, is also the man behind the bold original musicals Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Operation Mincemeat – so it's no surprise that he’s bringing an unexpected sparkle to Shakespeare’s classic. Part of this sparkle is the humour, which derives quite naturally from the text. After all, Hamlet is a pretty eccentric bloke (to say the least). But as his speech about poor Yorick – ‘a fellow of infinite jest’ – would testify, humour does tend to emphasize tragedy. 

The sparkle also comes from Hamlet himself. In 2019, Hiran Abeysekera gave the performance of a lifetime in the Sheffield Crucible’s production of Life of Pi. The hit show travelled to London and Broadway (and to the Dukes cinema!) and Abeysekera’s Pi had an unforgettable impact on audiences. 

His Hamlet promises a chaotic energy which, by the looks of his wardrobe, channels the ‘90s kid. While his family wears royal attire, he opts for a ‘tobacco and boys’ T-shirt and a Blockbuster Video crew neck. But despite its silliness, this get-up also signals his sardonic resentment for authority, refusal to conform, and destructive tendencies (you got to love silly shirt subtext). 

Another stand-out is Francesca Mills who, fresh off her brilliant run as the Duchess of Malfi at Shakespeare’s Globe, is a master of the Renaissance-tragedy-with-a-comic-twist. With glowing reviews, her Ophelia is not to be missed. 

Written by Jodie Passey.

This play’s doing its thing at the Dukes from January 22nd - February 1st. 

To Book or Not to Book! If you are not sure what the answer to that question is, coming along to Hamnet first and receive a £3 off Promocode for NT Live: Hamlet.