Ian McKellen plays the title role in Hamlet, and his stage performance is going to be beamed to cinemas.
Ian McKellen is no stranger to a Shakespeare soliloquy. Having played in every one of his plays many times over, from the towering titan King Lear to the Scottish Play and Richard III.
Now, he is bringing Hamlet, often cited as one of the all time great parts for an actor, to the big screen for one night only.
The synopsis reads as follows:
A tale of revenge that has stood the test of time, William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy is reimagined for the modern day as a gripping psychological thriller! Transcending the confines of the stage in a uniquely modern spin, the film utilises nearly every room of the Theatre Royal Windsor to transform it into the immortal Elsinore Castle, from basement dungeon to roof-top battlement. Ian McKellen, reprising his role as Hamlet, a man who descends into madness as he seeks vengeance against his uncle for the apparent murder of his father.
McKellen stars alongside Jonathan Hyde, , Jenny Seagrove, Steven Berkoff, Francesca Annis and Frances Barber.
Prolific theatre director Sean Mathias helmed the both the theatrical production and the film. It was shot at the Theatre Royal Windsor in 2021.
Hamlet will screen in UK cinemas for one night only on the 27th February 2024. The screening will also include a recorded Q&A with McKellen.
McKellen shows no signs of slowing down. After a hugely successful tour of the pantomime Mother Goose earlier this year, in which McKellen donned the Dame wig to play the title role, he is returning to the stage to tour a new play which adapts and combines both parts of Henry IV. Robert Icke’s production of Player Kings will see McKellen take on the role of John Falstaff.
You can find out more details and book tickets here.
