Hamlet Meets Radiohead: A Theatrical Collision

Shakespeare's iconic tragedy, "Hamlet," is being reimagined in a novel production titled "Hamlet Hail to the Thief." This theatrical event, which merges the Bard's classic text with the themes and music of Radiohead's 2003 album "Hail to the Thief," will premiere in London at the Barbican Theatre on October 31, 2026. The production is scheduled to run through January 23, 2027, marking its London debut after successful runs elsewhere.

Samuel Blenkin returns to portray the titular Prince of Denmark, with Ami Tredrea as Ophelia. The production is co-created and co-directed by choreographer Steven Hoggett and theater artist Christine Jones. Notably, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has contributed by reworking the album's material, which is performed live onstage by a company of musicians and actors. This creates a unique dialogue between Shakespeare's enduring words and Radiohead's exploration of dystopian themes, informed by the post-9/11 era and drawing inspiration from Orwell and the Brothers Grimm.