National Theatre Live: Hamlet Review
Hiran Abeysekera (Hamlet) in Hamlet at the National Theatre. (c) Sam Taylor
Written by Kirsty for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
The recent National Theatre production starring Olivier Award winner Hiran Abeysekera in the eponymous role is due to receive the National Theatre Live treatment later this month.
The production directed by Robert Hastie is pacey, vibrant and completely modern; something that is not often thought of when you think of Hamlet. Abeysekera is truly magnetic as the Prince of Denmark, and as the audience we see his journey from grieving yet exuberant young student, to madman sought on avenging the death of his beloved father. He plays Hamlet with an ease and accessibility not often seen; his interpretation of the “to be or not to be” soliloquy comes across as conversational and takes on an almost stream of consciousness quality. This conversational style carries throughout, especially in the scenes between Tom Glenister’s Laertes and Francesca Mills’s Ophelia. There were times that the speedy delivery was sometimes slightly distracting however on the whole the pace of the piece was timed wonderfully.
Mills shone as Ophelia, and she felt like a modern adaptation of a character who is normally pitied and scorned. Ophelia was fiery and funny, which made her closing scenes with her descent into madness heartbreaking. Mills and Abeysekera did feel less like a potential love match, rather two old friends looking to keep their families happy. This did not detract from Ophelia’s death, but made it feel even more pointless.
The supporting cast were all strong with Ryan Ellsworth’s Ghost being especially effective and a real scenestealer. Geoffrey Streatfeild as Polonius was another highlight, and any excuse for a ukulele is always a talking point.
Ben Stone's staging of the production was simple yet sumptuous, and the way the production was filmed allowed us to see the small details that may have been missed on stage. Jessica Hung Han Yun’s lighting design was another element that benefited from the filmed production. It is effective without being overwhelming and doesn't overpower any of the scenes.
The camera direction really took us into the heart of the piece, and shows how well produced and cleverly filmed pieces of theatre make it more accessible to a wider audience. I could see this production being incredibly useful for students who are studying the play at schools and colleges, as the modern interpretation and design choices make this play feel as relevant and accessible as any piece of new theatre.
NT Live’s filmed screening of Hamlet, featuring the Olivier Award-winning actor Hiran Abeysekera will be released in cinemas across the UK on 22 January and around the world soon after.
★★★★
