The stage production Hamlet Hail to the Thief, which merges Shakespeare's classic tragedy with Radiohead's sixth studio album, is set to premiere in London at the Barbican Theatre. The show originally debuted at Aviva Studios in Manchester last year before a run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Creative Collaboration
Co-created by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and directors Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett, the production companies have stated that Shakespeare's words and Radiohead's songs "illuminate one another in thrilling new ways that fuse theatre, music and movement." In this adaptation, Elsinore is transformed into a surveillance state, with Hamlet and Ophelia's awakening to lies and corruption revealed through ghosts and music.
Cast and Performances
Samuel Blenkin, known for Alien: Earth and Bong Joon-ho's Mickey 17, reprises the title role of Hamlet. Ami Tredrea returns as Ophelia, Paul Hilton portrays Claudius and the Ghost, and Claudia Harrison plays Gertrude. Other cast members include Alby Baldwin as Horatio, Brandon Grace as Laertes, Felipe Pacheco as Guildenstern, Romaya Weaver as Barnarda and Player Queen, and Marienella Phillips as Offstage Swing.
Director Insights
Thom Yorke expressed his excitement: "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. I am happy for it to be seen by a wider audience in such an intense space." Christine Jones noted: "Bringing this brutal play into the Barbican's brutalist space seems fated. Both the play and the album continue to speak urgently to the convulsed world we find ourselves in." Steven Hoggett added: "The chance to put all the learnings into the next stages of a show is a great privilege. The show will become richer in its elision of music, movement and text which makes this space a perfect home."
About the Album
Released in 2003, Hail to the Thief was Radiohead's sixth studio album, featuring singles like "There There," "2+2=5," and "Go to Sleep." Recorded after the September 11 attacks and the War on Terror, the album captures a period of paranoia and anxiety with dystopian themes, Orwell-inspired lyrics, and theatrical fables.
Performance Dates and Tickets
Hamlet Hail to the Thief will run at the Barbican Theatre from October 31, 2026, to January 23, 2027. Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 26.
