Radiohead's 'Hamlet Hail to the Thief' Opens at London's Barbican Theatre
The theatrical adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet set to Radiohead's 2003 album 'Hail to the Thief' will premiere at London's Barbican Theatre on October 31, 2026, running through January 23, 2027. The production, directed by Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett with Thom Yorke reworking the album's material, previously debuted in Manchester and played at the Royal Shakespeare Company to sold-out audiences. The fusion of Shakespeare's tragedy with the politically charged post-9/11 album creates a thematic resonance around themes of paranoia, grief, and dystopia.
Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a theatrical adaptation merging Shakespeare's Hamlet with Radiohead's 2003 album of the same name, will have its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre from October 31, 2026 through 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 the album's material for live performance. Samuel Blenkin reprises the title role, with Ami Tredrea returning as Ophelia and a supporting cast of actors and musicians performing the songs live onstage alongside Shakespeare's text. The production previously debuted in Manchester and completed a run at the Royal Shakespeare Company to sold-out audiences. The pairing of the dystopian-themed album—recorded in the aftermath of 9/11 and the War on Terror—with Shakespeare's tragedy of paranoia and madness has been noted by critics as a surprisingly cohesive artistic collaboration.
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