New rehearsal images have been released for Hamlet Hail to the Thief ahead of its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre, where the production will run from 31 October 2026 until 23 January 2027.
The Royal Shakespeare Company and Factory International production returns following its acclaimed world premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester last year, bringing together the worlds of Shakespeare and Radiohead in a bold theatrical collaboration.
Created by Thom Yorke, Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett, Hamlet Hail to the Thief reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy through the lens of Radiohead’s landmark 2003 album Hail to the Thief. Yorke has reworked and orchestrated music from the album, which is performed live throughout the production by a cast of musicians and actors.
The newly released photography offers a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals, featuring Yorke alongside co-creators Jones and Hoggett, as well as cast members preparing for the production’s London run.
Samuel Blenkin returns to the title role of Hamlet, joined by Ami Tredrea as Ophelia, Paul Hilton as Claudius/Ghost, Claudia Harrison as Gertrude, Alby Baldwin as Horatio and Brandon Grace as Laertes.
The cast also includes Felipe Pacheco, Romaya Weaver, Marienella Phillips, Nicolas Tennant, Merryl Ansah, Miles Barrow, Halim Diwani and Gavin James.
The full original band will reprise their roles in the production, including Ed Begley, Tom Brady, Jenny Clifford, Joe Downard, Shane Forbes, Meg Hill, Tom Knowles and Adam Martin, with Emilio Moreno Arias and Josephina Ortiz Lewis joining as cover singers.
Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief was originally released in 2003 and featured singles including “There There”, “2+2=5” and “Go to Sleep”. Written during a period marked by global uncertainty and political upheaval, the album’s themes of paranoia, fear and power provide the backdrop for this new theatrical interpretation of Shakespeare’s play.
The London engagement continues the longstanding relationship between the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Barbican, bringing one of the most talked-about theatrical productions of recent years to the capital.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
