Hamlet

(seen at the afternoon performance on 11th October 2025)

Given Hiran Abeysekera’s performance in the title role, it is rather appropriate that this opens at the start of a new school year. Experienced as Abeysekera is in Shakespeare, this is his first attempt at the Dane.

The role fits him like a new school uniform. Over-large at first, but it is very rewarding to watch him “grow into it” as the tragedy unfolds.

His key speech is a mixture of naïve and intellectual, as he struggles boyfully towards self-enlightenment. An encounter with Yorick’s remains demonstrate how far he has come, the final contest sealing him as a gallant victor. Delighted with himself at the curtain, as the audience are with his work.

This is very much an actors’ production. Sophia Papadopoulos (in for absent Tessa Wong) is a stunning Horatio. Best friend to Hamlet in every way, with a wisdom she imparts with utmost good intentions.

Ayesha Dharker as Gertrude, the other significant woman in Hamlet’s life, is always an actor to enjoy. Here she takes her work to a new and exciting level by finding an unusually maternal instinct in a usually cold role.

Husband Claudius is played by Alistair Petrie with similar warmth that fools us all until his conscience rises to intolerable heights.

As usual, Laertes and his family are the victims. This time, Geoffrey Streatfield is a mild and loving Polonius, adored by children Laertes (Tom Glenister) and Ophelia (Francesca Mills).

Glenister takes a wide arc from kind brother to bitter revenge seeker. Mills steals the second act with a madness that shocks audiences at our own amusement with it.

Notes too for Hari Mackinnon and Joe Bolland as a sort of “Ant and Dec” Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Thick as mince, a proper double act. Also for Ryan Ellsworth, whose skull play and comic timing as grave digger are appreciated.

Director Robert Hastie seems not to seek any deeper meaning, nor redraw characters. Changing the final line is perhaps his boldest move, along with playing a little with us by having Ben Stones place a forestage over the safety curtain pit to work on.

The rest of the design is a lush historic frieze-wall Palace, no doubt containing “in jokes” within the drawings. Contrasted with a nicely raffish theatre, simple and effective.

Same can be said of Jessica Hung Han Yun’s lighting – a monkey favourite who knows how to focus our attention and make a ballroom intimate with shadow.

Also worth mentioning are Richard Taylor, whose score underlines gently the work, songs changing the tone and linking this modern production to its history. Alexandra Faye Braithwaite adds clarity of sound to ensure we hear even in the most physical moments – for which Ira Mandela Siobhan and Kate Waters deserve credit in movement and fight direction respectively.

If this reads rather like a list, then it is appropriate for this opinion. A rare production of the play which is truly equal in its effort to tell the story simply and with the greatest economy.

Critics will argue that every National Theatre “Hamlet” must dissect and reveal hidden meaning in the text, but this version is very much of our times. People coming together to help each other through bad periods in the face of corrupt authorities.

The monkey has now seen productions of the play in all three of the National’s auditoria. The first two did so and were of their era. This does things differently and is all the more refreshing for it.

A reflection of current mores, with a kindness in its lesson. Looking outwards for the first time, the play breathes anew, perchance to dream.

Add Your Own Review

The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.

Run Time:	2 hours 50 minutes including one interval
Monday:	7.15pm
Tuesday:	7.15pm
Wednesday:	1.30pm, 7.15pm
Thursday:	7.15pm
Friday:	7.15pm
Saturday:	1.30pm, 7.15pm
Sunday:	X

Note:

6.30pm on 30th October, 11th, 13th and 18th November 2025

Venue Box Office & Current Prices

020 3989 5455
Venue box office details and show price charts are available on the Lyttelton Theatre, the National Theatre page.

Location: Box office discretion
Availability: Box office discretion
Price: £15 off original price / £20 flat rate for Students, Stage Pass, the unwaged, SOLT, NCA and other theatre union members
Notes: STANDBY: Unsold seats may be available at £15 off the original prices to personal callers at the box office from 1 hour before the performance. This is reduced to a flat rate of £20 each to Students, Stage Pass, the unwaged, SOLT, NCA and other theatre union members. Valid I.D. is required for this concession. This offer does not apply to “sold out” performances where only returned and ‘producer’s use’ tickets are available. FRIDAY RUSH: Every Friday at 1pm, a number of £10 seats are also released online and by phone for the following week’s performances via the National Theatre’s website www.nationaltheatre.org.uk.

Venue: Lyttelton Theatre, the National Theatre
Address: South Bank, Lambeth, SE1 9PX
Box Office: 020 3989 5455

More details: Seats to buy or avoid at this venue plus travel information and other details can be found on the Lyttelton Theatre, the National Theatre page