National Theatre Live: Hamlet

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog, The Imitation Game, Frankenstein at the National Theatre) takes on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy.

Directed by Lyndsey Turner (Posh, Chimerica) and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, National Theatre Live will broadcast this eagerly awaited production live to cinemas.

As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state.  

"For the monologues...[Cumberbatch] is superb, meticulously tracing lines of thought into revelations that stun, elate, exasperate and sadden him. There’s not a single soliloquy that doesn’t shed fresh insight into how Hamlet thinks." (Ben Brantley, New York Times)

"Benedict Cumberbatch is a blazing five-star Hamlet." (Daily Telegraph)

"A fresh, dynamic staging with a vivid, supple performance at its heart." (Financial Times)

"One of the most visually and atmospherically stunning productions I've ever seen, of anything, ever." (Time Out)

National Theatre Live is the National Theatre’s groundbreaking initiative to broadcast theatre live from the stage to cinemas around the world. Each performance is captured and broadcast live (or ‘as live’, depending on location) via satellite to over 2000 venues in more than 40 countries.