BBC Two will broadcast this critically acclaimed stage production of William Shakespeare’s classic play, starring BAFTA and Olivier award-winning actor Andrew Scott in the title role.
BBC viewers will have a front row seat at this celebrated production of Hamlet, which will broadcast on BBC Two in 2018. The programme was commissioned by Patrick Holland (Controller, BBC Two) and Emma Cahusac (Commissioning Editor, Arts) and is produced by John Wyver at Illuminations Television. Shot live in front of a West End audience, BBC viewers will be given close-up access to this generation’s most acclaimed Hamlet.
Following a sell out run at the Almeida Theatre, Hamlet has enjoyed a limited season in the West End, with over 55,000 people booked in so far across the entire run, equating to 96% of all tickets. 62% of Hamlet’s audience have been first time attendees. Over 28,000 seats were available at £30 or under, specifically for under 30s – with over 300 available for each of the 96 performances. 15,000 tickets were sold at £25 or less.
Robert Icke, Director (and Almeida Theatre Associate Director) says: “It has been a real joy to work with such a gifted and dedicated company of actors on bringing this most famous play to audiences in 2017. The production has been on a wonderful journey from the Almeida to the West End, and I am very much looking forward to this next step on BBC Two. To be able to offer our version of Hamlet to as wide and diverse an audience as possible has always been of paramount importance to us, and now we are thrilled to be able to bring it to people across the country.”
In celebration of the show’s final weeks at the Harold Pinter Theatre, the critically acclaimed Almeida Theatre production of Hamlet has offered a number of exclusive events and behind-the-scenes insights into the production including a cast Q&A and an In conversation with Robert and Andrew. The final event announced will run on 22 August.
LIVE STREAM IN CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT ICKE, ANDREW SCOTT AND STEPHEN GROSZ – HAMLET, MADNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH
Tuesday 22 August – 2pm
Two of Hamlet’s key themes are madness and grief; and mourning, bereavement and emotion are central to the story. Director Robert Icke used psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz’s book THE EXAMINED LIFE as a reference point in rehearsals and one of the most feted aspects of the production has been that, in Andrew’s performance, these emotions feel unusually personal and raw. Robert, Andrew and Stephen discuss the character, the play and its themes of madness and mourning, sanity and survival, live from the Facebook Studio.
Watch the live stream from 2pm on Tuesday 22 Aug via Time Out London. Available to watch again in full after the event.