The bridges across the Atlantic in the theatre world have never been stronger. The long-standing major partnership between London’s pride, the National Theatre, and New York’s artistic heart, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), kicks off its season with the most exciting transfer yet: Hamlet.
This sharp, dark, and equally witty production, which received standing ovations in London last year, will take the stage at BAM Harvey Theater from 19 April to 17 May 2026.
Not Traditional, but “Fearlessly Contemporary”
In the director’s chair sits Robert Hastie, who made a name for himself with Operation Mincemeat. Hastie dusts off Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy from the shelves and confines it to today’s world of privilege and power. The court is not merely a setting; it is an aesthetic prison where every gesture is watched and even grief becomes a performance.
“The play itself is a trap; are you looking closely enough?”
A New-Generation Prince: Hiran Abeysekera
Hiran Abeysekera, who won an Olivier Award for Life of Pi, brings an unconventional breath of fresh air to the character of Hamlet. Described by critics as possessing “manic energy and an ADHD-like impulsiveness,” this Hamlet is both brilliantly intelligent and dangerously unpredictable.
Costume and Design: In designs signed by Ben Stones, Hamlet’s signature modern style and “deliberate scruffiness” (think oversized ruff paired with trainers) clash with the impeccable elegance of the rest of the court.
The Venue: The raw, lived-in texture of BAM’s Harvey Theater is tailor-made to convey the rotten state of Denmark.
The Star of the Night: Francesca Mills (Ophelia)
One of the most talked-about aspects of this production is undoubtedly Francesca Mills’s interpretation of Ophelia. As the first little person to play the role in a mainstream West End production, Mills presents Ophelia not merely as a victim, but as a joyful, impulsive, and heart-shaking figure whose tragedy resonates deeply. For many critics, she forms the emotional centre of the play.
Blending Shakespeare’s words with today’s pace and the spirit of Brooklyn, this modern tragedy is not just a theatre performance—it is a cultural event.
