Royal Shakespeare Company: Hamlet (2016)

Royal Shakespeare Company: Hamlet (2016). Royal Shakespeare Company: Hamlet: Directed by Simon Godwin, Robin Lough. With Paapa Essiedu, Tanya Moodie, Clarence Smith, Ewart James Walters. Hamlet has the world at his feet. Young, wealthy and living a hedonistic life studying abroad. Then word reaches him that his father is dead. Returning home he finds his world is utterly changed, his certainties smashed and his home a foreign land. Struggling to understand his place in a new world order he faces a stark choice. Submit, or rage against the injustice of his new reality. Simon Godwin (The Two Gentlemen of Verona 2014) directs Paapa Essiedu as Hamlet in Shakespeare's searing tragedy. As relevant today as when it was written, Hamlet confronts each of us with the mirror of our own mortality in an imperfect world.

“This 2016 Royal Shakespeare production of u0026#39;Hamletu0026#39; was quite a unique one. While the play has been no stranger to non-traditional productions, none before or since had a West African military twist while apparently still in Denmark. The production is also interesting for the first time in the companyu0026#39;s history where the title role was played by a black actor, something of a milestone in an already milestone year (400th anniversary of Shakespeareu0026#39;s death).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile not one of the best productions the Royal Shakespeare Company have ever done (they have done so many gems though) or one of my favourite u0026#39;Hamletu0026#39; productions, this is regardless very well done on the whole. It is not easy making u0026#39;Hamletu0026#39; fresh, this production does so brilliantly without making it unrecognisable. Do be warned though that this is not a traditional production, if that is a bother for some itu0026#39;s best looking elsewhere. For those always open to different interpretations, this u0026#39;Hamletu0026#39; may appeal to you more. Am a traditionalist myself, but have always been open to new and different interpretations as long as they are done well, this u0026#39;Hamletu0026#39; does that mostly very well indeed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor my tastes though the setting was rather vague, it was actually not clear to me where it was meant to be set. With the setting in the play actually being pretty specific, it didnu0026#39;t always fit and the look was at times a little too simple.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlthough Clarence Smith brings smoothness and nobility to Claudius, playing him well within the concept, this viewer prefers to see Claudius performed with a serpentine edge which was slightly missing with Smith. Just personal preference though.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHaving said all this, the production is very well performed and it is the cast that make the production close to special. Starting with a very youthful and confident lead performance from Paapa Essiedu, who brings a lot of burning passion, charisma and poignancy to the difficult title role. Natalie Smith portrays the most interesting and most refreshing Ophelia in a long time, an Ophelia that isnu0026#39;t passive and one that develops as a character. As well as the pathos there is a refreshing and rarely seen before sass and ferocity. Tanya Moodle is an initially dignified Gertrude whose descent into shell-shock is quite chilling. Edward James Walters is very spooky as the Ghost in a suitably unsettling entrance, while Cyril Nri is humorous, scheming yet noble Polonius.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDespite reservations with the setting, there are no reservations to be had with the stage direction. Taking an oft-told and old story and making it emotionally raw and fresh, with the themes being remarkably current. There are a lot of touches, big and little, not seen before in any production of Hamlet (including what is done with Ophelia) and they were all done tastefully and it never came over as irrelevant. There is a good deal of tension and the moving parts did move me. The soundtrack is thrilling and authentic within the concept, have come across people that felt that it was stereotypical but it didnu0026#39;t come over that way to me. The video directing is intimate, you actually feel like you are there, while successfully opening up the action enough. It allows one to see some lovely details and reactions, Hamletu0026#39;s madness and despair can be seen visibly with telling use of the eyes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn a nutshell, very good and nearly great. To be seen for mainly the cast. 8/10”