Hamlet
Returning home from University, Prince Hamlet finds that his father is dead and his mother has quickly married his Uncle Claudius and is now the new King. As Hamlet’s grief unravels, he sees the ghost of his dead Father who accuses Claudius of his murder and urges Hamlet to respond with revenge. Hamlet hatches a plan, feigns madness, and seeks retribution, but will his actions succeed? Or will the Kingdom come tumbling down around him?
Directed by Richard Cheshire this is a very dark production, not only in its context, but also in its staging. The ghostly scenes, especially, have an eerie uncomfortableness to them, with the cast lighting them selves with torchlight in addition to the single spotlight used. Video Design by Bethany Thompson also captures a further element to the piece, creating an immersive feel in places.
We’re all probably familiar with some everyday sayings that appear in the piece, such as, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”, “There’s method in my madness”, or “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, but the themes of morality and abuse of powers are still ever present and relevant today from this Shakespearian favourite, if not more than they were when it was originally written and first performed.
The titular role is played by Benedict Shaw, who encompasses Hamlet’s angst well, although the feigned madness felt a little overplayed, Hamlet’s grief was channelled well and the performance generally felt more natural in Act 2.
Claudius, played by Sean O’Callaghan, was a mix of misogyny and self-importance, although it carried the power of the character. Sean McKenzie as Polonius, has a nice rapport with the other characters and adds to the flow of the story. In addition, his portrayal of 1st Gravedigger is light-hearted and brings a few smiles to an otherwise sombre tale.
The standout performance of the night must go to Amy Tara as Ophelia; her portrayal was both passionate and incredibly moving. Lucinda Freeburn as Guildenstern and Sam Jones in various roles were also delightful to watch, both gave very natural and easy performances.
The performance generally felt a little ‘shouty’ in Act 1, but this greatly improved later on and overall, this production was a delight to experience, the cast are clearly talented and involved in their characters, however dark their intentions may be.
This production as reviewed on the 26th June 2025 at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre where it's currently running until the 5th July 2026. Get your tickets here: Stafford Shakespeare presents: HAMLET – Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit : Supplied by production
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