Hamlet

Synopsis
Live broadcast of the the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2016 production of Hamlet directed by Simon Godwin with a predominately all-black cast and Paapa Essiedu in the title role. Extras include a commentary by the director and a brief 5-minute featurette, PLAYING HAMLET.
Series
RSC Live from Stratford on Avon
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Year of release
2016
Recording date
2016
Transmission details
21 Jun 2020 at 21:00 (Channel: BBC4)
Duration
180 mins

Credits

Director
Simon Godwin
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Sola Akingbola
Production Design
Paul Wills
Cast
Paapa EssieduHamlet
Clarence SmithClaudius
Tanya MoodieGertrude
Cyril NriPolonius
Natalie SimpsonOphelia
Bethan CullinaneGuildenstern
Byron MondahlAmbassador
Doreene BlackstockPlayer Queen
Eke ChukwuVoltemand
Ewart James WaltersGravedigger
Ewart James WaltersGhost
Hiran AbeysekeraHoratio
James CooneyRosencrantz
John Wyverproducer for video
Kevin N. GoldingBarnardo
Kevin N. GoldingPriest
Kevin N. GoldingPlayer King
Marcus GriffithsLaertes
Marième DioufCornelia
Romayne AndrewsOsric
Temi WilkeyPlayer
Theo OgundipeFortinbras
Theo OgundipeMarcellus
Theo OgundipeLucianus

Additional Details

Theatre
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Theatre company
Royal Shakespeare Company
Production type
Stage Recordings
Historical period
Contemporary
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama; Shakespeare
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Black actors
Related items
Pappa Essiedu on His Ghanaian-Influenced Hamlet at the RSC

Notes

Notes
"Theatrical history was made last night in Stratford. For the first time since it came into being in 1961, the RSC has given the role of Hamlet to a black actor". Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph, 22 March 2016.
History
The production was relayed live to cinemas by RSC Live from Stratford upon Avon on 8 June 2016. It was broadcast on BBC4 on 21 June 2020.

Production Company

Name

Royal Shakespeare Company

Web
https://www.rsc.org.uk External site opens in new window
Address
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Waterside
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
CV37 6BB

Archive

Name

BoB

Email
bob@learningonscreen.ac.uk
Web
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand External site opens in new window
Phone
020 3743 2345
Address
Learning on Screen - the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council
330 Holborn Gate
1st Floor, Suite 120
London
WC1V 7QH
Notes
Formerly a service from BUFVC, British Universities Film & Video Council

Distributor

Name

Opus Arte

Email
Customer.services@opusarteshop.com
Web
http://www.opusarte.com External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7010 8560
Fax
020 7836 0506
Address
Customer Services
Simran Mediatech Ltd
26-28 Hammersmith Grove
Hammersmith
London
W6 7BA
Notes
Opus Arte is the Royal Opera House’s multi-platform arts production and distribution company. Established in 1999 the company grew rapidly to become one of the world’s leading providers of high-quality classical music content. As well as releasing around twenty titles on DVD, Blu-ray and CD per year, the company has produced and directed programmes that have been broadcast in over 60 countries and released in cinemas. The website allows lovers of opera, ballet, classical music and theatre to purchase traditional CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, and also to download digital music and video straight to a computer or portable device.
Name

Retail outlets

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Hamlet". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av76953 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)