Considered by some to be Shakespeare’s greatest work, Hamlet is brought back to life on stage as the Donmar Warehouse season at Wyndham’s Theatre continues. Jude Law stars as the prince himself under the direction of the Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Grandage. Shakespeare’s longest play looks at the events surrounding the death of the King of Denmark and how one man’s rage can have upsetting and horrifying consequences for a family and an entire kingdom.
The King of Denmark is dead, but Gertrude the Queen is already married to the man’s brother, Claudius. The king was Prince Hamlet’s father and Claudius his uncle, but when the deceased appears before him as a ghost he learns that his uncle is responsible for his untimely demise. Hamlet is devastated, wrapped in guilt and wastes no time in deciding to avenge his death. Little does he know at this point that his mother is married to the murderer and his actions of revenge are about to cause devastation and horror for the family and the kingdom. This is Shakespeare’s longest play with public opinion concerning fluctuating over the years as Hamlet himself has been viewed as both the victim and hero since its time of writing in 1599 to 1601. It’s these evolving views that have helped to elevate it above the crowd and stand out as a true classic. A tragic tale from the pen of the world’s greatest playwright, Hamlet is a tale of corruption, murder, betrayal and ultimately revenge.
Today, we can see references to Hamlet in all walks of life and it is the most quoted work ever to be written in the English Language. It is a classic in every sense of the word with a great actor in Jude Law, who truly brings the character to life 400 years after the actor Richard Burbage took on the role for its first performance (the man was also the first actor to take on Othello, Richard III and King Lear).
Michael Grandage directs the entire season at the Wyndham’s Theatre, which also includes Madame de Sade, Ivanov and Twelfth Night. With Hamlet he will bring historical Denmark back to life and provide a great evening’s entertainment.