Radiohead's 'Hamlet Hail to the Thief' Opens at London's Barbican Theatre
A stage adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet set to Radiohead's 2003 album 'Hail to the Thief' will have its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre, running October 31, 2026 through January 23, 2027. The production, co-created by choreographer Steven Hoggett and theater artist Christine Jones with Thom Yorke reworking the album's music, previously played sold-out runs at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Aviva Studios in Manchester. The London transfer marks a wider audience for a critically praised show that blends Shakespeare's text with Radiohead's dystopian themes of paranoia and grief.
Hamlet Hail to the Thief, which made its world debut in Manchester at Aviva Studios before a run at the Royal Shakespeare Company, will arrive at London's Barbican Theatre on October 31, 2026, closing January 23, 2027. The production is co-directed and co-created by choreographer Steven Hoggett and theater artist Christine Jones, with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke reworking material from the band's politically charged 2003 album for a cast of approximately 20 musicians and actors who perform the songs live onstage. Samuel Blenkin, known for FX's 'Alien: Earth' and Bong Joon-ho's 'Mickey 17,' reprises the title role, with Ami Tredrea returning as Ophelia and Paul Hilton playing both Claudius and the Ghost. Promotional imagery for the production echoes Hamlet's iconic skull soliloquy, underscoring the show's fusion of classical drama and contemporary rock. Yorke described the experience as 'fascinating and very strange,' expressing enthusiasm for the Barbican's intense atmosphere, while Jones called the pairing of the 'brutal play' with the venue's brutalist architecture 'fated.' Originally recorded in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the War on Terror, 'Hail to the Thief' draws on Orwell-inspired lyrics and dystopian imagery that critics noted dovetail naturally with Hamlet's themes of paranoia, grief, and madness. The production is presented by ATC Music Group, Vivek J. Tiwary for TEG+, and Nate Koch.
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