Hamlet Hail to the Thief set for London Barbican run

A major theatrical production that fuses Shakespeare's "Hamlet" with Radiohead's album "Hail to the Thief" will open in London this fall. The show, titled "Hamlet Hail to the Thief," is scheduled to run at the Barbican Theatre from October 31, 2026, to January 23, 2027. Tickets will go on sale to the public on June 26.

The production is a collaboration between Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and directors Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett. It reimagines the classic tragedy as a contemporary story set in a surveillance state, where the awakening of Hamlet and Ophelia to lies and corruption is revealed through ghosts and music. Yorke personally reworked and orchestrated songs from the 2003 album for a cast of over 20 musicians and actors, who perform the music live during each show.

The original cast from the show's earlier runs will reunite for the London engagement. Samuel Blenkin will return in the title role, with Ami Tredrea as Ophelia. The company also includes Paul Hilton as Claudius and the Ghost, Claudia Harrison as Gertrude, Alby Baldwin as Horatio, Brandon Grace as Laertes, and Felipe Pacheco as Guildenstern.

The creators expressed enthusiasm about bringing the work to...