Sean Holmes directs this unconventional production of Hamlet at the intimate Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. For those who’ve never experienced a show at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, it’s something we’d recommend trying at least once – a small space nestled inside Shakespeare’s Globe on the Southbank, it’s a beautiful theatre with a gorgeous ceiling, and is entirely candle-lit.
While some other lighting is utilised over the course of the evening, much of this production unfolds by candlelight and it’s just absolutely stunning to watch – the atmosphere inside the building is quite unlike anything we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
While the setting may be traditional, this staging of Hamlet is anything but. It stars the excellent George Fouracres in the lead role – a rebellious indie boy, he mopes menacingly around the stage, quoting The Smiths.
There’s a surprising amount of humour in his performance – he’s quite playful with the audience, eliciting responses and engaging in a pantomime-like back-and-forth.