Review: SH!T-FACED SHAKESPEARE: HAMLET, Leicester Square Theatre
If you’ve ever wondered what Shakespeare would be like with a side of tequila—or four—this performance has you covered. Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare: Hamlet is less a solemn tragedy and more a chaotic, comedy-fuelled romp that gleefully tosses theatrical decorum out the window.
Each night, one classically trained actor plays a key role—this time Princess Donnough—but with a twist: they’ve been deliberately plied with alcohol for hours before curtain up. In this performance, Donnough had downed a bottle of prosecco and a third of a bottle of rum in the four hours before showtime, then polished off three cans of beer during the performance. The result? A gloriously unpredictable, two-hour sprint through Denmark’s most famous royal meltdown, with random comments, giddy self-congratulations for managing half a line, and plenty of detours that left the audience in stitches. Ghostbusters music somehow finds its way into the soundtrack—planned, but perfectly apt for the absurdity unfolding.
The joy of the show lies not only in the inebriated chaos, but also in the sober cast’s heroic efforts to keep it together. James Murfitt, acting more as a narrator-cum-Jiminy Cricket, is the anchor of the evening—offering razor-sharp sarcasm, quick thinking, and the occasional gentle herding to keep the story moving. Whenever he steps in, hilarity isn’t far behind. The rest of the ensemble play multiple roles with skill, improvising around the drunken detours while keeping things just within Shakespearean boundaries. One inspired choice was channelling the drunken outbursts into side characters—like a crab-shaped ghost—making the interruptions feel part of the madness rather than derailing it entirely.
It’s a very Fringe-style show—you can see where it originated and how it’s grown. Random audience participation is par for the course here (front row at your own risk), and every performance is utterly unique. The chaos you witness is yours alone, never to be repeated exactly. That one-off nature makes it worth going back for another round, just to see how the next unsuspecting drunk will steer—or crash—the story.
With its unpredictable blend of slapstick, improv, and boozy bravado, Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare: Hamlet isn’t the place to study the subtleties of the Bard. But if you’re after laughs, absurdity, and a reminder that theatre can be gloriously messy, you’ll leave grinning.
To beer or not to beer… that’s not even a question.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Frances Tate
