Thom Yorke and cast in rehearsals for Hamlet Hail to the Thief

See newly released imagery of the cast of Hamlet Hail to the Thief in rehearsals ahead of its premiere at the Barbican Theatre. Thom Yorke, Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett’s Radiohead-powered adaptation arrives in London following an acclaimed run at Manchester Factory International before moving to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

New images have been released of the cast of Hamlet Hail to the Thief in rehearsals ahead of the London premiere. The production will run at the Barbican Theatre from 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027, follows an acclaimed world premiere last year at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Thom Yorke, Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett have collaborated on this dynamic new version of Hamlet, that blends Shakespeare’s classic tragedy with Radiohead’s celebrated album Hail to the Thief.

Yorke has reworked the album for this production, with the music being performed live by a cast of musicians and actors.

Find out more about Hamlet Hail to the Thief

Photos: The cast of Hamlet Hail to the Thief in rehearsal

Tom-Brady-Music-Supervisor-Music-Director-Keys-2-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Ed-Begley-Vocals-Tom-Knowles-Associate-Music-Supervisor-Keys-1-and-Meg-Hill-Vocals-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

Shane-Forbes-Drums-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Ed-Begley-Vocals-and-Meg-Hill-Vocals-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

Thom-Yorke-Co-Creator-and-Orchestrator-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Halim-Diwani-understudy-Laertes-Horatio-Guildenstern-and-Miles-Barrow-Rosencrantz-Understudy-Hamlet-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Steven-Hoggett-Co-Creator-and-Co-Director-and-Christine-Jones-Co-Creator-and-Co-Director-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

The-cast-of-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief-and-Jess-Williams-Choreographer-in-rehearsal.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

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Brandon-Grace-Laertes-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Jenny-Clifford-Guitar-and-Adam-Martin-Guitar-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Nicolas-Tennant-Polonius-Romaya-Weaver-Barnarda-Player-Queen-understudy-Ophelia-and-Claudia-Harrison-Gertrude-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

Ami-Tredrea-Ophelia-and-Paul-Hilton-Claudius-Ghost-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

Steven-Hoggett-Co-Creator-and-Co-Director-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

Christine-Jones-Co-Creator-and-Co-Director-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Felipe-Pacheco-Guildenstern-and-Christine-Jones-Co-Creator-and-Co-Director-in-rehearsal-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

L-R-Samuel-Blenkin-Hamlet-and-Jess-Williams-Choreographer-in-rehearsals-for-Hamlet-Hail-to-the-Thief.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan

Shakespeare reimagined

Recorded in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the “War on Terror” and released in 2003, Hail to the Thief captures a period of paranoia, fear and anxiety. These themes resonate well with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, making the unusual pairing a unique lens through which to explore both works.

The cast of the upcoming production include:

Samuel Blenkin as Hamlet (reprising his role)
Ami Tredrea as Ophelia
Paul Hilton as Claudius/Ghost
Claudia Harrison as Gertrude
Alby Baldwin as Horatio
Brandon Grace as Laertes
Felipe Pacheco as Guildenstern
Romaya Weaver as Barnarda/Player Queen (understudy Ophelia)
Nicolas Tennant as Polonius
Merryl Ansah as Gravedigger (understudy Gertrude)
Miles Barrow as Rosencrantz (understudy Hamlet)

The company is completed by Marienella Phillips (Rosencrantz, Barnarda/Player Queen and Gravedigger), Halim Diwani (Laertes, Horatio and Guildenstern) and Gavin James (Claudius and Polonius).

Returning for the London premiere is the original production band, including Ed Begley (vocals), Tom Brady (music supervisor, music director and keys 2), Jenny Clitford (guitars), Joe Downard (bass guitar), Shane Forbes (drums), Meg Hill (vocals), Tom Knowles (associate music supervisor and keys 1) and Adam Martin (guitars). They are joined by cover singers Emilio Moreno Arias and Josephina Ortiz Lewis.