Hamlet Hail to the Thief
Barbican Theatre
- Opens: Saturday, 31 October 2026 -
Booking until: Saturday, 23 January 2027
Hamlet Hail to the Thief description
Fancy a bold, immersive re-interpretation of Hamlet? Don't miss Hamlet Hail to the Thief.
Think dynamic, think radical, think extraordinary. Hamlet Hail to the Thief is a remarkable adaptation of Shakespeare's beloved tragedy, Hamlet, unfolding on stage accompanied by a reworked version of the 2003 Radiohead album of the same name, Hail to the Thief.
The production is set in a modern version of Elsinore you've never seen before, a surveillance state where paranoia is rife and everyone is corrupt. Hamlet and Ophelia's dark, dramatic story confronts the lies and deceit revealed by eerie ghosts and wonderful live music in the shape of Thom Yorke's specially-crafted version of the album, performed live on stage by talented musicians.
Co-created by Thom Yorke, Steven Hoggett (Frantic Assembly, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Black Watch) and the Tony and Olivier-winning Christine Jones (Queen of the Night, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), the show enjoyed its world premiere at Manchester's Factory International venue before transferring to Stratford-upon-Avon's Royal Shakespeare Theatre, attracting plenty of acclaim along the way.
The Barbican is the perfect London venue for this energetic adaptation. Themes of bloody violence and suicide lead the way, a fitting tribute to Shakespeare's original, and the live music interacts with the words to deliver a powerful dramatic impact. Blending Shakespeare's sheer genius with Radiohead's compelling soundscapes creates a truly unique piece of theatre.
Buy Hamlet Hail to the Thief tickets to experience a production perfect for mature audiences and ideal for people who adore innovative experimental theatre.
