The first rehearsal pictures of Hamlet Hail to the Thief are out, showing Thom Yorke, co-directors Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones and the company at work ahead of the London premiere at the Barbican Theatre on 31 October.
Rehearsal photography by Manuel Harlan has been released for Hamlet Hail to the Thief, which runs at the Barbican Theatre from 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027. Press night is 12 November.
The Royal Shakespeare Company and Factory International production sets Shakespeare’s text against Radiohead’s 2003 album Hail to the Thief, reworked by Thom Yorke and played live by a company of actors and musicians. Christine Jones adapted the play with Steven Hoggett, and the two direct it together. It had its world premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester last year.
Samuel Blenkin returns as Hamlet. With him are Ami Tredrea as Ophelia, Paul Hilton as Claudius and the Ghost, Claudia Harrison as Gertrude, Nicolas Tennant as Polonius, Alby Baldwin as Horatio, Brandon Grace as Laertes, Miles Barrow as Rosencrantz, Felipe Pacheco as Guildenstern, Merryl Ansah as the Gravedigger and Romaya Weaver as Barnarda and the Player Queen. Marienella Phillips, Halim Diwani and Gavin James complete the company as understudies.
The original band is back in full: Ed Begley and Meg Hill on vocals, Tom Brady as music supervisor, music director and on keys 2, Tom Knowles as associate music supervisor and on keys 1, Jenny Clifford and Adam Martin on guitars, Joe Downard on bass and Shane Forbes on drums. Two cover singers, Emilio Moreno Arias and Josephina Ortiz Lewis, join them for London.
Choreography is by Jess Williams, scenography by AMP featuring Sadra Tehrani, arrangements by Justin Levine, sound by Gareth Fry, projection by Will Duke, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun and costumes by Lisa Duncan. ATC Music Group, Vivek J. Tiwary for TEG+ and Nate Koch produce.
A captioned performance is scheduled for 28 November, an audio-described performance for 12 December and a chilled performance for 16 January 2027, each at 2.30pm.
The cast, the creative team and the background to the show are covered in everything you need to know about Hamlet Hail to the Thief.
Hamlet Hail to the Thief is booking now at the Barbican Theatre from 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027.
