By Lacy Baugher for Theater on July 17th, 2015

First Look at Benedict Cumberbatch in Rehearsals for 'Hamlet'

After nearly a year of planning, excitement and record-breaking ticket sales, the time is almost upon us – Benedict Cumberbatch’s production of Hamlet is slated to open this August for a three-month run in London’s West End. 

And, with opening night nearing, rehearsals for the show are officially underway, and the first photos of the cast have been released.

You can see a full gallery at the Guardian’s website, which includes full details about the production’s various cast members, which include Cirian Hinds as Claudius, Jim Norton as Polonius, Sian Brooke as Ophelia, Anastasia Hill as Gertrude and lots more. 

hamlet 2.jpg

Hamlet runs at London’s Barbican Theatre from August 6 – October 31, and is directed by Lyndsey Turner. The entire production is currently sold out, though there will be 30 tickets released daily and sold at £10 each.

hamlet1.jpg

Happily, for those that don’t fancy a jaunt to London this Fall, the National Theatre Live program will be screening the production in cinemas worldwide this October, so keep an eye out for dates in your area.

hamlet 4.jpg

(For those who can’t get enough Hamlet, you can even see a tiny tiny snippet of Cumberbatch performing the To be or not to be soliloquy in the recent cast video from the Sherlock Comic Con panel. It’s like two lines. But that’s so not the point.)

hamlet 5.jpg

Are you looking forward to seeing Cumberbatch tackle William Shakespeare's greatest role? 

By Lacy Baugher for Theater on July 17th, 2015
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

Explore More

More to Love from Telly Visions

  • Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroine Gets to Tell Her Own Story in 'Ophelia'

    William Shakespeare’s plays always provide rich fodder for the feature film industry, as every generation seemingly wants their own takes on the Bard’s most famous works. Often times, these leads to somewhat unconventional interpretations, in which main characters are gender-swapped, contemporary settings are used, or the plays are used to provide commentary on various modern-day issues.

    But there’s one character who almost never gets her due, no matter what production we happen to be discussing. And that’s Hamlet’s doomed love, Ophelia, who is often regulated to a simpering madwoman with little agency over her own life beyond the method of her death. 

    A feature film is looking to change all that. 

    By Lacy Baugher for Movies on 4/30/2019
    Daisy Ridley as Ophelia (Photo: IFC FIlms)