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★★★
For the next two weeks at Barons Court Theatre, audiences can experience Harry Reed’s adaptation of ‘Hamlet’ which is presented by Just A Regular House Productions and Series2 Theatre Company. Titled ‘Horatio & Hamlet’, the play looks at the relationship between the friends from Shakespeare’s original work, utilising the original verse, but instead honing in on the personal connection between the two characters.
Modern time period and set design
The play is contemporarily staged and set in Hamlet’s student flat. Laura Mugford has created a warm, cosy and inviting environment that features lots of props which subtly evoke some of the themes of the play and Shakespeare’s wider topics, for example a chess board with the regal-themed pieces. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the authenticity of the set, it is slightly jarring having the story based in modern times as apart from details within the accommodation and Hamlet’s personal conflict, there is little indication of what is happening with the royal family of Denmark. It is difficult to picture what is going on outside the residence, with Horatio returning from the shops and everything seeming quite normal. In both the visuals and narrative it would be helpful to have greater clarity around the wider story of ‘Hamlet’, helping the audience to truly appreciate the creativity of the adaptation.
How does it fare as a standalone piece of theatre?
It is evident throughout the play that audiences need to have an extensive comprehension of Hamlet to truly appreciate the form and narrative. Harry Reed has worked diligently with Shakespeare’s original verse to create a really thoughtful piece of theatre about the two characters, but without a strong understanding of the source material, the script is quite repetitive and does not hold weight on its own. I would like to have seen more context upfront for anyone new to the text (like myself) to prevent this from feeling like a sequel or follow up to the original, which audiences can only enjoy after becoming familiar with this specific example of Shakespeare’s work.
Passionate cast performances
It goes without saying that the cast performances are very strong, most notably in the recreation of the pair’s relationship. Alex Dean shares Hamlet’s many sides, particularly excelling in the more unstable moments, providing the audience with insight into the Prince’s state of mind. Furthermore, Joseph Ryan-Hughes is supportive in their interpretation of the loyal Horatio, exemplifying sensitivity and care.
Overall thoughts
In its current form ‘Horatio & Hamlet’ doesn’t quite work as an isolated piece of theatre, but with a little more thought to how prior context could be introduced, it would be an interesting adaptation of Shakespeare’s work. You can catch the play at Barons Court Theatre until Saturday 12th October, with tickets available via the theatre’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Horatio & Hamlet’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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