Lyndsey Turner’s forthcoming production of Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch will be broadcast live to cinemas as part of NT Live this autumn.
One of the most highly anticipated shows of 2015, Hamlet will play at the Barbican Theatre from 5 August to 31 October, with the NT Live screening taking place on 15 October.
The Imitation Game star, who is one of the five hopefuls fighting it out for the Best Actor accolade at this weekend’s Oscars, takes on the title role in Shakespeare’s tragedy. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralysed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state.
The production reunites director Turner and designer Es Devlin, who both picked up Olivier Awards at last year’s star-studded ceremony for their work on Lucy Kirkwood’s acclaimed hit Chimerica, and features video design by Devlin’s regular collaboration Luke Halls.
Hamlet joins a plethora of productions, including the Billy Nighy and Carey Mulligan-led Skylight and the Young Vic’s critically acclaimed A Streetcar Named Desire, which have previously taken part in the groundbreaking cinema initiative that sees shows screened directly from the stage to more than 550 cinemas in the UK and overseas.
Hamlet is currently sold-out, but theatregoers eager to get their hands on a much sought-after ticket can look forward to the spring, when details of how to purchase one of the 100 £10 tickets for each performance will be announced. Tickets for the NT Live screening will go on sale on 16 March at www.ntlive.com