Production 2004

Other videos in this series

• Hamlet (2004) - Act 2 Scene 2

  Watch this extract from the production, filmed during rehearsals in the Ashcroft Room at the Swan Theatre in 2004.

  Act 2 Scene 2

  The play Hamlet breaks out of the popular Jacobean tradition of 'revenge tragedy' and in so doing moves into a more recognisable modern world. Given his mission to kill the king, how should Hamlet set about doing it? How can he be sure of his cause when his instructions came from a ghost? What kind of vengeance should he choose? And how does he feel, full of all these questions, when other sons around him - Laertes and Fortinbras - can't wait to get retribution?

  Hamlet - Toby Stephens

  Filmed, edited and produced for the RSC by Cornucopia Productions.

• Michael Boyd - First impressions

  Director Michael Boyd discusses his first encounter with the story of Hamlet - in a comic!

• In rehearsal - What is Hamlet's motivation?

  Director Michael Boyd and actor Toby Stephen (playing Hamlet) discuss Hamlet's speech in Act 2 Scene 2. When does he get especially wound up? What's he working through in his mind when he's speaking these words?

• Toby Stephens - Hamlet's mission

  Actor Toby Stephens discusses Hamlet's approach to his 'mission' to kill Claudius.

• Toby Stephens - Is Hamlet losing control?

  Is Hamlet actually mad, or is he faking it? Actor Toby Stephens discusses his opinions on Hamlet's state of mind, and the audience's response.

• In rehearsal - Extreme moods

  Director Michael Boyd and actor Toby Stephen discuss how to play Hamlet's speech in Act 2 Scene 2 to accurately reflect Hamlet's extreme changes of mood.