RSC’s Hamlet at Theatre Royal Nottingham Review
Photo: Marc Brenner
Written by Hollie for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are my own
This production includes: Loud music and gun shot noises, flashing lights and strobe, haze, stage blood, violence and scenes of an adult nature including death and depictions of grief.
Straight from the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon and widely regarded as one of the greatest plays of all time, Hamlet by William Shakespeare is currently touring across the UK in this modern but relatable adaptation of the playwright’s famous tragedy.
The play follows the traditional story in which King Hamlet dies early on in the production and his wife Gertrude continues as Queen of Denmark as she then marries her previous husband’s brother Claudius who becomes the new King of Denmark. After an encounter with his father’s ghost, in which the spirit reveals that Claudius killed his father, our protagonist Prince Hamlet begins his rampage of revenge where he descends into lunacy and confusion.
Intentional choices have been made in this adaptation by director Rupert Goold to make the audience feel slightly uneasy and distracted. This version of the tragedy is set in 1912 on a sinking ship sailing the seas and provides an alternative viewpoint of the family and their level of power in society. Es Devlin’s set design with a tilted deck of the ship and a moveable roof can make you feel a little dizzy and disorientated at times and this decision is both innovative and intentional.
Projected onto the back of the stage are videos of the sea and the view from the portholes on the ship. Video designer Akhila Krishnan creates both peaceful projections on stage and also provides a dark and gloomy atmosphere in the auditorium which adds to the unease felt by the audience.
The auditorium was incredibly busy for a Tuesday night with audience members reminiscing on studying Hamlet as a key play during their school years, as well as similarities and differences being drawn between the various adaptations of Hamlet they have enjoyed over the years.
My initial thoughts when the curtains rose were conflicting, as the digital clock that appears as part of the staging, reminded me of the show 2:22 which I really didn’t enjoy but I was able to see past that as the acting ability in this production was incredible.
Ralph Davis plays our protagonist, Hamlet in a mesmerising but equally villainous way. His use of dialogue as well as subtle moments of humour are both relatable and modern in their depiction.
Richard Cant plays Polonius, chief counsellor to the King and Laertes and Ophelia’s father. Richard’s portrayal of his character was both believable and exquisitely portrayed throughout the production, as he provided many moments of humour which added light to the play as well as reflective narratives as to what is happening in Hamlet’s mind.
Although he was only on stage for a short time, Ian Hughes plays the Ghost of Old Hamlet. He added both energy and intrigue to the production, which sounds a little odd when you’re talking about a spirit but I really enjoyed the particular scene where he was on stage.
Although this production felt both traditional and modern at the same time, it did lose its pace on several occasions which is unsurprising due to it being the longest of Shakespeare’s plays. The short moments of musical interludes as well as the bursts of choreography added a different dynamic to the production and they were very good but they were little and not often enough.
To be or not to be, that is the question. This is an interesting and thought-provoking adaptation that prompts many audience members to discuss and reflect their prior knowledge of the play and Shakespeare’s other tragedies, comedies and histories.
This production of Hamlet continues at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until Saturday 21st March 2026 before it continues on its UK Tour stopping at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal and York’s Theatre Royal before it ends at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on Saturday 25th April 2026.
★ ★ ★ ★
