Shakespeare meets Radiohead as HAMLET HAIL TO THE THIEF confirms London premiere
Following an acclaimed world premiere at Aviva Studios where it captivated sold out houses, Factory International & The RSC’s Hamlet Hail to the Thief will receive its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre from 31 October 2026 - 23 January 2027.
Shakespeare’s great tragedy collides with Radiohead’s 2003 album in this frenetic production, co-created by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, and directors, Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones.
In this fast-paced distillation of the play, Shakespeare’s words and Radiohead’s songs illuminate one another in thrilling new ways that fuse theatre, music and movement. Personally reworked by Yorke, the deconstructed album is performed live onstage by a cast of musicians and actors.
Thom Yorke said: “I’m into finally bringing Hamlet Hail to the Thief to London, and to the Barbican of all places! It is fascinating and very strange to me how this came to life and how it has worked. When it revealed itself to us over time I was shocked, having never had this kind of experience before. I am happy for it to be seen by a wider audience in such an intense space.”
Christine Jones said: “Bringing this brutal play into the Barbican's brutalist space seems fated. I feel fiercely fortunate to regroup with these incisive collaborators and push our work further. Both the play and the album continue to speak urgently to the convulsed world we find ourselves in. For me, working on this project is one way to find the ground beneath me.”
Steven Hoggett said: “The chance to put all the learnings into the next stages of a show is a great privilege. What were guesstimates and hopes become areas we can now push into, knowing we can create more precision. The fact that this is the process that will find its home on stage at the Barbican is truly thrilling. The show will become richer in its elision of music, movement and text which makes this space a perfect home. I myself have sat in the auditorium on many, many occasions and had the boundaries blown apart as to what theatre might be. We’re following some giants but also many of my personal inspirations. In this way we hope to continue this dazzling tradition - a commitment to theatre that looks to meet the expectations of a multi-generational audience with an intention to be as radical as we are reverential.”
Samuel Blenkin (Black Mirror, Netflix) reprises his role as Hamlet, alongside Ami Tredrea (The Shitheads, Royal Court) as Ophelia, Paul Hilton (An Enemy of the People, West End) as Claudius/Ghost, and Claudia Harrison (The Line of Beauty, Almeida Theatre) as Gertrude.
The returning cast also includes Alby Baldwin (The Unbelievers, Royal Court) as Horatio, Brandon Grace (Summerfolk, National Theatre) as Laertes, Felipe Pacheco (The Hunger Games, Troubadour Theatre) as Guildenstern, Romaya Weaver (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Barnarda/Player Queen, and Marienella Phillips (Love's Labour's Lost, RSC) as Offstage Swing. Further casting to be announced.
Elsinore has a new ruler, and the air bites. Hamlet Hail to the Thief centres on Hamlet and Ophelia’s awakening to the lies and corruption infecting their war-like state. In this witching hour, when ghosts reveal wild and hurling truths, hectic pulses through the blood of its citizens. When minds and hearts are overthrown, music speaks loudly.
For more info on Hamlet Hail to the Thief, please click here.
