Synopsis

National Theatre – Screening

Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera stars as Hamlet in a fearless, contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy, directed by Robert Hastie for National Theatre Live.

Trapped between duty and doubt, power and privilege, Prince Hamlet returns to Denmark to find his father dead, his mother remarried, and his uncle now king. Haunted by grief and driven by suspicion, Hamlet embarks on a perilous quest for truth and justice, questioning everything, including his own sanity.

This sharp, stylish, and darkly funny production, filmed live at the National Theatre, brings fresh urgency to Shakespeare’s most famous play. Hastie’s direction strips away the grandeur to expose the raw emotional core of betrayal, revenge, and existential dread. Abeysekera’s Hamlet is deeply endearing and intellectually restless, navigating a world where appearances deceive and loyalty is a dangerous game.

Featuring a stellar cast including Francesca Mills as Ophelia and Geoffrey Streatfeild as Polonius, this staging marks the National Theatre’s first production of Hamlet in 15 years, a bold return that speaks powerfully to today’s audience