A new trailer for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet, currently running at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until the 13th August has been released. 

Starring Paapa Essiedu, this latest production of Shakespeare’s tragedy confronts us all with a mirror of our own mortality in an imperfect world.

It is directed by Simon Godwin and also stars James Cooney, Marcus Griffiths, Cyril Nri and Natalie Simpson.

Hamlet has the world at his feet. Young, wealthy and living a hedonistic life studying abroad. Then word reaches him that his father is dead.

Returning home he finds his world is utterly changed, his certainties smashed and his home a foreign land. Struggling to understand his place in a new world order he faces a stark choice. Submit, or rage against the injustice of his new reality.

Here is what some of the critics have made of the production:

The Guardian: ****Michael Billington wrote: “There is something spiritually refreshing about this new RSC Hamlet.”

The Telegraph: ***Dominic Cavendish said: “Essiedu shines, borders on blazing, but the production needs more heat and more African dust if it’s to enter the annals on its own terms.”

Evening Standard: **** Henry Hitchings described it as: “an accessible, absorbing take on Shakespeare’s tragedy.”

WhatsOnStage: *** Matt Trueman commented: “The RSC’s new Hamlet is an an unruly, firecracker presence.”

Hamlet runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until the 13th August. For more information and to book tickets visit: https://www.rsc.org.uk/hamlet/.