Hamlet at Southwark Playhouse

What if you did Hamlet, but without all of the adult characters? That means no Polonius, no Claudius and no Gertrude. And what if it was staged as an ensemble, with a cast that often rotates between roles? That’s the premise of the new production of Hamlet at the Southwark Playhouse, and it results in a condensed, slightly modernised and somewhat hectic adaptation of the classic Shakespeare formula. 

Marking the latest in a series of theatrical reinventions from Lazarus, Hamlet brings the tragedy of the prince of Denmark a bit closer to the 21^st century, with simple costume design and a heavier focus on tongue-in-cheek humour. It is in those moments that the play shines best, when it delves into the possibilities of giving the audience a little wink and a nudge. The famous play-within-a-play scene is a definite highlight, where the focus on comedy rings chorus after chorus of laughter. 

Similarly, the commitment on the part of Lazarus to bring this play to light in such an encapsulated fashion is also remarkable. The ensemble cast, composed almost entirely of fresh faces, are energetic and engrossing. This is especially true of Amber Mendez-Martin and Raj Swamy’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Lexine Lee’s delicate turn as Ophelia. Furthermore, the creative use of limited staging results in some fantastically eye-catching sequences and brilliant redesigns of classic scenes. Particularly good are the sections with the ghost of Hamlet’s father, Ophelia’s suicide, and the suspending of poor Yorick’s skull in a fridge.

However, the sense of urgency does detract from proceedings a little. Perhaps this comes as a result of choosing to shorten the four-act play into a single two-hour performance, while maintaining as much of the original dialogue as possible. In many scenes, the lyricism and rhythm of Shakespeare’s text, and many of the words, are lost amid the haste. 

Overall, it is an enjoyable evening, with a nice balance of things for the Shakespeare purist and things for those seeking something new. There certainly isn’t anything rotten in the heart of Southwark.

Joe Milo

Hamlet is at Southwark Playhouse from 12^th January until 4^th February 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.