Hiran Abeysekera returns to the National Theatre following an Olivier Award Winning performance in Life Of Pi.
Shakespeare is not my area of speciality when it comes to theatre – he didn’t write many musicals.
I only remember studying Romeo and Juliet at school and I wasn’t enthralled to delve deeper into the works of the bard. But nowadays I am trying to broaden my horizons and following a trip to see an abridged version at Southwark Playhouse in 2023, I thought it time to try again with a new production of of Deputy Artistic Director Robert Hastie’s reimagining of Hamlet at the National Theatre.
Usually I will go to review a show knowing very little about the story, so as to fully embrace what I am watching. But I knew enough about Shakespeare to know that if I didn’t do my research beforehand, I probably wouldn’t understand what was happening – and I was right! Luckily for me, I had gone down a rabbit hole earlier that day and done extensive research – and it paid off! Take a look below at my summary of what Hamlet is about if like me, you aren’t familiar.
Hot off the heels of his Olivier Award-winning performance in Life Of Pi, Hiran Abeysekera returns to the National Theatre to play the title role in this new contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. He gives a charming and energetic performance with a cheeky smile.
Ayesha Dharker plays Hamlet’s mother Gertrude and all I could look at were THOSE SHOES! She strutted around the stage in the highest heels I have ever seen (well I watch a lot of Real Housewives so that’s probably not true). Gertrude is an interesting character because you are never quite sure where her loyalty lies and Ayesha’s performance keeps you guessing.
Joe Bolland and Hari Mackinnon play Guildenstern and Rosencrantz like tweedledee and tweedledum, following each other around, not really doing what they are supposed to with not a braincell between them.
It is Francesca Mills though who steals the show as Ophelia. She gives a strong and bold performance, commanding the stage and causing mischief everywhere she goes.
As the only survivor in the play, Tessa Wong as Horatio is the one constant thing that holds the show together, from the very beginning to the very end.
The full cast includes Phil Cheadle (Marcellus), Ryan Ellsworth (Ghost), Tom Glenister (Laertes), Mary Higgins (Osric), Liz Jadav (Nurse), Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer (Fortinbras), Sophia Papadopoulos (Cornelius), Alistair Petrie (Claudius), Siobhán Redmond (First Player), Seb Slade (Francisco), Geoffrey Streatfeild (Polonius) and Noel White (Bernardo).
The costumes and set design by Ben Stones are nicely thought out. Blending 90’s casual wear with royal attire and going from lavish ballrooms to community centre vibes.
I don’t have a huge amount to judge this play by as I can’t say I’ve seen a million versions of Hamlet (like I am sure most other reviewers can). But I enjoyed it and appreciated it. I felt it did well to make it accessible in the direction, without losing any of the poetic language people expect.
I’m not a Shakespeare convert yet, but I think this performance has helped me on that journey.
★★★★
West End Wilma
Hamlet plays at the Nation Theatre until 22 November 2025.
Hamlet will be broadcast to cinemas through National Theatre Live from 22 January 2026.
A summary of Shakespeare’s great tragedy – Hamlet
Prince Hamlet returns to Denmark following the death of his father (King Hamlet) only to find his mother (Gertrude) has already remarried – to his uncle (King Hamlet’s brother) Claudius. This makes Hamlet sad and so his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are brought in to spy on him to see if he is sad, or mad.
The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to him, to say that he was murdered by his brother Claudius (by pouring poison in his ear as he slept) and Hamlet must seek revenge.
Hamlet tells his girlfriend Ophelia that he has never loved her and that she should go and live in a nunnery, which eventually sends her delirious and she commits suicide.
Before Hamlet murders the new King to seek revenge for his father, he puts on a play for his family to tell the story his father told him about what happened to him in order to confirm Claudius is guilty. Once he is happy he has the right murderer, he kills who he thinks is his uncle but it is actually Ophelias father, Polonius.
The King sends Hamlet to England with his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with the intention for the King of England to kill him. Hamlet uncovers this plan and makes his friends die instead.
When Hamlet returns to Denmark, Ophelia’s brother Laertes (unhappy that he killed his father and drove his sister to death) challenges him to a fencing match, with a plan to kill him with a poisoned sword. Claudius arranges for a cup of poison to there too, incase plan a doesn’t work. Hamlet and Leurtes are both killed with the poisoned sword and Gertrude drinks the cup of poison unknowingly and also perishes.
Did Hamlet really go mad? Did he ever love Ophelia? And more importantly, was Gertrude having an affair with Claudius and aware of the plot to kill the King?
