Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief-2025

source-notes on a theatre production at the RSC [[ 2025 ]]

A condensed, kinetic version of Hamlet, with music from [[ Hail to the Thief ]] by [[ Radiohead ]] woven throughout it with a live band.

  • Ophelia and Hamlet both young and impetuous, which is the way it should be in my opinion. Made the tragedy seem more immediate.
  • Play is an all consuming meditation on grief and depression, how they stop action. Hamnet-Maggie-O-Farrell-2020 really emphasises this as well.
  • Music weaves together perfectly in different moments, such as Ophelia singing Sail to the moon and the repeated refrain of 2+2=5.