Hamlet Hail to the Thief Extends Its Run at the Barbican

Shakespeare's Hamlet and Radiohead's music now share a stage at London's Barbican Theatre, where Hamlet Hail to the Thief is playing an extended run. An extended run means the booking has been lengthened beyond its original dates.

The show mixes Shakespeare's tragedy with Radiohead's 2003 album Hail to the Thief. It is a co-production, meaning the work was made jointly by two organisations: the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Factory International, the Manchester arts venue. It premiered in Manchester before moving to London.

Thom Yorke, the Radiohead singer, is one of three co-creators and co-directors, alongside Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett. Yorke also orchestrated the songs, and Justin Levine arranged them. WhatsOnStage names the wider team as well: the setting was devised by AMP featuring Sadra Tehrani, the lighting is by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and the movement is choreographed by Jess Williams.

Samuel Blenkin plays Hamlet. Ami Tredrea plays Ophelia, and Paul Hilton plays Claudius. Miles Barrow and Halim Diwani take the roles of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Ed Begley and Meg Hill appear as singers.

The running time is one of the production's clearest changes from a traditional staging. According to WhatsOnStage, the show runs 100 minutes without a break, a version cut from around three hours.

Anyone wanting to see it can check the Barbican's website for current dates, seat prices and booking fees before buying.