New production photography has been released for Hamlet Hail to the Thief, now playing at the Barbican Theatre until 23 January 2027 following its acclaimed world premiere at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Created by Thom Yorke, Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett, the production fuses Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Radiohead’s landmark album Hail to the Thief, reworked by Yorke and performed live by a cast of actors and musicians.
Samuel Blenkin reprises his role as 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 company also includes Felipe Pacheco, Romaya Weaver, Marienella Phillips, Nicolas Tennant, Merryl Ansah, Miles Barrow, Halim Diwani and Gavin James.
The production sees the full original band return, 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.
Set in a fractured and militarised Elsinore, Hamlet Hail to the Thief follows Hamlet and Ophelia as they confront corruption, manipulation and political unrest. Shakespeare’s text is paired with the themes and music of Radiohead’s 2003 album, creating a theatrical experience that blends live performance with Yorke’s reimagined orchestrations.
Co-created and co-directed by Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett, the production features music by Radiohead, arrangements by Justin Levine, choreography by Jess Williams, sound design by Gareth Fry, projection design by Will Duke, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun and costume design by Lisa Duncan.
Originally released in 2003, Hail to the Thief remains one of Radiohead’s most celebrated albums, featuring tracks including “There There”, “2+2=5” and “Go to Sleep”. Themes of political anxiety, paranoia and societal unrest from the record are woven throughout this new stage adaptation.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
