Hamlet
The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to Canterbury with a spectacular new production of Hamlet.
Written by William Shakespeare
Originally directed by Rupert Goold
Directed on tour by Sophie Drake
Hamlet’s mother has married his uncle, and at a less than decent interval too. As he pulls at the threads of his not-so-happy new family, Hamlet unravels a web of deceit and immorality that leads to the ultimate crisis of conscience.
Fresh from its run in Stratford-upon-Avon, this gripping production of Shakespeare’s famous revenge drama visits Canterbury as part of a major national tour.
Ralph Davis (RSC’s Tamburlaine, Timon of Athens, Richard III and King John) will play the role of Hamlet.
The stellar creative team is led by multi-award-winning director Rupert Goold whose recent work includes Dear England (National Theatre) and King Charles III (Almeida). Rupert has directed multiple celebrated productions at the RSC and in 2026, he will take up the post of Artistic Director at London’s Old Vic.
Joining Rupert on the creative team are: Sophie Drake (Revival Director), Es Devlin (Set Designer), Evie Gurney (Costume Designer), Jack Knowles (Lighting Designer), Adam Cork (Composer and Sound Designer), Hannes Langolf (Movement Director), Akhila Krishnan (Video Designer), Kev McCurdy (Fight Director), Rebecca Latham (Dramaturg), and Matthew Dewsbury CDG (Casting Director).
Please note this production contains the use of haze, flashing lights, strobe, loud music, gun shots and loud noises throughout. There are scenes of smoking cigarettes, violence which include the use of stage blood and scenes of death and grief in this production.
There will be a free touch tour before our audio described matinee performance on Saturday 25 April. This event is for blind and partially sighted customers, it provides audio described performance bookers an opportunity to immerse in the world presented on stage by touching parts of the set, props and costumes. Please contact our Box Office to book.
Whitehead Monckton
Post-show Talk
Learn more about the show with a free post-show talk. No need to book, simply stay in your seats at the end of the performance. This talk will be BSL Interpreted.