RSC’S NATIONAL TOUR OF HAMLET COMES TO THE HACKNEY EMPIRE, LONDON, MARCH 2018
THE NATIONAL TOUR OF HAMLET CULMINATES WITH AN EXTENDED RUN IN LONDON AT THE HACKNEY EMPIRE BETWEEN 6 AND 31 MARCH 2018
Issue date: 6 February 2018
HACKNEY PRESS NIGHT: 8 MARCH 2018, 7PM
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) critically acclaimed production of Hamlet, will finish its national tour with an extended run at London’s Hackney Empire between 6 and 31 March 2018, before it moves to the Kennedy Center, Washington (USA) between 2 and 6 May 2018.
Directed by Simon Godwin, the production sees RSC Associate Artist Paapa Essiedu reprise his award-winning performance in the title role as one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic heroes.
Alongside Paapa in the cast are Romayne Andrews (Rosencrantz), Lorna Brown (Gertrude), James Cooney (Horatio), Patrick Elue (Fortinbras), Kevin N Golding (Player King), Tracy-Anne Green (Player), Maureen Hibbert (Player Queen), Whitney Kehinde (Cornelia), Byron Mondahl (Professor of Wittenberg), Joseph Mydell (Polonius), Mimi Ndiweni (Ophelia), Esther Niles (Osric), John Omole (Voltemand), Clarence Smith (Claudius), Buom Tihngang (Laertes), Ewart James Walters (Ghost) and Eleanor Wyld (Guildenstern).
Paapa Essiedu won Best Performance in a Play at the UK Theatre Awards in 2016 for his role as Hamlet. His other RSC credits include Edmund in King Lear, Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Mouse and His Child. Additional theatre credits include King Lear (National Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Tobacco Factory). He played Demetrius in Russell T Davies’ adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for BBC 1 (2016), appeared in Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, and was recently in the BBC 1 drama, The Miniaturist. Paapa has just appeared in Jack Thorne’s Kiri on Channel 4 and will feature in Mike Bartlett’s Press (BBC) later this year.
See the cast behind the scenes at the Hackney Empire: http://bit.ly/2FEfQtz
Simon Godwin’s work as a director includes The Two Gentlemen of Verona (RSC), Richard II (Shakespeare’s Globe), Twelfth Night, Man and Superman, The Beaux’ Stratagem and Strange Interlude (National Theatre). He is Associate Director at the National Theatre, and was Associate Director at Northampton Royal & Derngate between 2001-04. Simon will direct Timon of Athens in the Swan Theatre as part of our Winter 2018 Season.
Simon Godwin said: “Paapa is British with Ghanaian heritage. When he and I talked about our production of Hamlet, I realised how radical it might be to see Denmark through the lens of a completely different culture, a culture that Paapa himself had experienced. I began to imagine a Denmark re-conceived as a modern state influenced by the ritual, traditions and beauty of Ghana. So, our setting is full of the colour, emotional intensity and passion associated with that part of the world.
“As Hamlet, Paapa is intelligent, youthful and charismatic, with a contemporary wit. But Paapa’s portrayal is also mercurial with an element of danger.
“Part ghost story, part family tragedy, part dark comedy, Hamlet is an urgent and gripping thriller.”
Watch a clip from the original production: https://youtu.be/--tWffBTyqM
Hamlet is directed by Simon Godwin and designed by Paul Wills with lighting by Paul Anderson. Music for the production is composed by Jamiroquai percussionist Sola Akingbola. Sound is by Christopher Shutt. Movement by Mbulelo Ndabeni. Fights by Kev McCurdy.
For further information please contact:
Armani Ur-Rub, Assistant Press and Marketing Officer (London)
01789 27 2388 / armani.ur-rub@rsc.org.uk
#RSCHamlet
Notes to editors
Hamlet performance dates at Hackney Empire
Press night: Thursday 8 March, 7pm.
Semi-integrated BSL performance: Tuesday 13 March, 7.15pm.
Captioned performance: Thursday 15 March, 1.15pm with Touch Tour, 11.15am.
Hackney Empire
6 – 31 March 2018
Box Office: 020 8985 2424
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Notes to editors
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION
The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST
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