Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary with one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, Hamlet. The production will run at Leicester Square Theatre from 7 August to 21 September 2025, followed by a UK tour.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® has toured the world, broken America, established itself on London’s West End, won numerous awards, and survived a zero-star review in The Times. Now, they will be celebrating 15 years on the wagon with Hamlet, the story of a privileged whiny lad who goes a bit bonkers and does some stabbings.
Featuring a cast of professional Shakespearean actors, this unique production takes an unpredictable twist each night as one performer is chosen to be deliberately intoxicated for up to four hours before showtime. The rest of the cast must then navigate the play, improvising their way through the unpredictable chaos that springs from their inebriated colleague’s booze-fuelled antics.
Stacey Norris, director said, “Fifteen years of drunken debauchery, Shakespearean chaos, and somehow—against all odds—we’re still here. How? No idea. How are we still alive? Even bigger mystery. But here we are, raising a glass (or several) to 15 years of beautifully boozy Bard, and what better way to celebrate than with the greatest tragedy of all—our own survival. See you at Leicester Square Theatre, if we make it that far.”
This Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® production of Hamlet will be directed by Stacey Norris, produced by James Murfitt and Johanna Rigg for Leicester Square Theatre, with dance choreography from Beth-Louise Priestley and fight choreography from Robbie Capaldi. Lighting design is by Tom Williams, set design by Nicola Jones, costume design by Lorna Jean Costumes, marketing by Tom McGregor, and PR from ANRPR.
Casting will be announced in due course.
Following the production’s run in London, the show will tour the UK, visiting Albert Halls in Bolton (1 October), Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield (2 October), Princes Hall in Aldershot (3 October), The Exchange in Twickenham (4 October), Lichfield Garrick (7 October), The Albany Theatre in Coventry (8 October), Taunton Brewhouse (9 October), Exmouth Pavilion (10 October), The Berry Theatre in Hedge End (11 October), Chelmsford Theatre (16 October), The Haymarket in Basingstoke (17 October), Exeter Corn Exchange (18 October), Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil (19 October), Palace Theatre in Southend (21 October), Corn Exchange in Ipswich (22 October), The Cresset in Peterborough (23 October), The Capitol Horsham (25 October), The Old Market in Brighton (26 October), Komedia Bath (28 October), Kenton Theatre in Henley (29 October), Farnham Maltings (30 October), Shanklin Theatre on Isle Of Wight (31 October), New Theatre Royal Portsmouth (1 November), Tivoli in Wimborne (2 November), Royal & Derngate in Northampton (4 – 5 November), Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle (6 November), Scarborough Spa (7 November), Middleborough Town Hall (8 November), Epic Studios in Norwich (12 November), Norwich Theatre (13 November), Lincoln Arts Centre (14 November), Old Woollen in Leeds (15 November).
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
