Following an acclaimed world premiere at Aviva Studios home of Factory International and the Royal Shakespeare Company last year, Hamlet Hail to the Thief is set to have its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre from 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027, when Shakespeare’s great tragedy will collide with Radiohead’s 2003 album in a frenetic production co-created by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, and directors, Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones.
In this fast-paced distillation of the play, Shakespeare’s words and Radiohead’s songs illuminate one another in thrilling new ways, fusing theatre, music and movement as, personally reworked by Yorke, the deconstructed album is performed live onstage by a cast of musicians and actors.
Yorke says, “I’m into finally bringing Hamlet Hail to the Thief to London, and to the Barbican of all places. It is fascinating and very strange to me how this came to life and how it has worked. When it revealed itself to us over time I was shocked, having never had this kind of experience before. I am happy for it to be seen by a wider audience in such an intense space.”
Elsinore has a new ruler, and the air bites. Hamlet Hail to the Thief centres on Hamlet and Ophelia’s awakening to the lies and corruption infecting their war-like state. In this witching hour, when ghosts reveal wild and hurling truths, hectic realisation pulses through the blood of its citizens and when minds and hearts are overthrown, music speaks loudly.
Jones reflects, “Bringing this brutal play into the Barbican’s brutalist space seems fated. I feel fiercely fortunate to regroup with these incisive collaborators and push our work further. Both the play and the album continue to speak urgently to the convulsed world we find ourselves in. For me, working on this project is one way to find the ground beneath me.”
Olivier award-winner co-director, Hoggett, adds, “The chance to put all the learnings into the next stages of a show is a great privilege. What were guesstimates and hopes become areas we can now push into, knowing we can create more precision. The fact that this is the process that will find its home on stage at the Barbican is truly thrilling. The show will become richer in its elision of music, movement and text which makes this space a perfect home.”
Cast members returning from the original production include Samuel Blenkin, who will reprise his role as Hamlet alongside Ami Tredrea as Ophelia.
Also returning are Paul Hilton as Claudius / Ghost, Claudia Harrison as Gertrude, Alby Baldwin as Horatio, Brandon Grace as Laertes, Felipe Pacheco as Guildenstern, Romaya Weaver as Barnarda/ Player Queen and Marienella Phillips as Offstage Swing, with further casting yet to be announced.
Hail to the Thief (2003) is Radiohead’s sixth studio album, recorded in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the subsequent War On Terror. The album underscores a period of paranoia, fear and anxiety, with dystopian themes incorporating Orwell inspired lyrics and theatrical, Brothers Grimm style fables. Inspired by Yorke’s preparation work for Hamlet Hail to the Thief, Radiohead released Hail To The Thief – Live Recordings last September, revisiting archived tracks from across live shows from 2003 to 2009.
More information and tickets HERE
Wow — this may have big effects on my tentative plans to spend a week in Scotland in late November! 🤔
Go for it!