Finding a new take on one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies is never going to be easy but the Icarus Theatre Collective do a fine job with this wonderfully realised production of Hamlet.
Giles Roberts takes the title role as the tormented and grieving Prince of Denmark, establishing a compelling presence at the centre of this powerful play.
He is supported by an impressive cast, particularly Nick Holbeck as the moody and vengeful Laertes, John Paton as the conniving and murderous Claudius and Loren O’Dair whose Ophelia in the grips of gradual psychological breakdown is both subtle and moving.
John Eastman is excellent as Polonius (he also plays the ghost). Julia Munrow plays Gertrude as a woman trapped by her own duplicitous behaviour while Tobias Deacon and Omar Ibrahim offer some light relief as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
With actress Dani McCallum as Horatio there’s an intriguing gender twist thrown into the mix.
The text has been carefully pared back and with the play running at around two-and-a-half hours, this is a production that cuts to the essence of this classic tale of greed, deception, murder and violent retribution.
Intriguingly, in the light of the circumstances of the death of Osama Bin Laden, it addresses a very topical subject indeed: Does revenge justify murder?
* Icarus Theatre Collective’s production of Hamlet plays Lighthouse in Poole until Saturday May 7
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here