August 27, 2018
Past performances galore Many celebrated actors have played this role over the centuries. A host of star names over the past few years. Everyone has their favourites. Strangely, I have only seen two live performances of Hamlet. The first, as an undergraduate on an exciting trip to the National Theatre, with Daniel Day Lewis as the Prince and Judi Dench as his mother, Gertrude. Some years later, I turned down the chance to see Imogen Stubbs in the lecherous, incestuous role of the Queen, thinking she was not advanced enough for this senior part, wishing she had been cast as Ophelia instead. I have never forgiven myself.
Daniel Day-Lewis with Judi Dench (Gertrude) in 1989
Ben Whishaw with Imogen Stubbs (Gertrude) in 2004
But, we are talking about princes. In particular, the unhappy prince who finds himself too much in the sun. There have been so many Hamlets. Frequently, several on stage or screen in the same year throughout the decades. Every actor who is anyone seems to need to play the Dane in order to justify his thespian credentials. The earliest on record was Richard Burbage, In Shakespeare’s day.
Richard Burbage, the earliest recorded Hamlet
In modern history, Ben Kingsley and Laurence Olivier took on the challenge. In more recent times, Ken Branagh, Mark Rylance, David Tennant, Ben Whishaw, Jude Law and Benedict Q Cumberbatch, with Q cumber devotees nightly in the front row. Then there was Rory Kinnear; not a patch on his dad in the entertainment circle, but also a fine actor. The biggest name lately has been Tom Hiddleston.
Laurence Olivier, on screen, 1948
Kenneth Branagh, a serial Hamlet performer, seen here on screen with Kate Winslet (Ophelia) in 1996
Mark Rylance, another frequent Hamlet, with Yorick, at The Globe (1988)
Benedict Cumberbatch, a favourite with his b'*'tches, in 2015 photo: Tristram Kenton
You will have spotted several knights of the realm in the names above, as well as a few commoners. The next pictures you see will fall into the latter category.
Rory Kinnear in 2010
And Roy Kinnear, with Gene Wilder, in Charlier and the Chocolate Factory, 1971
Well, it's all about the dad.
There have been many more actors picking up the skull in Yorick’s grave, including actresses. Maxine Peake stands out, but she was not the first female prince, nor the last. Sarah Bernhardt played the part in 1899. Michelle Terry, recently appointed Artistic Director at the Globe Theatre, cherry-picked the lead role for herself in a move demonstrating boldness and outstanding leadership. In this ‘gender-blind’ production, Shubham Saraf played Ophelia.
Maxine Peake in 2014
Sarah Bernhardt in 1899
Michelle Terry with James Garnon (Claudius) at the Globe, 2018
Shubham Saraf as Ophelia at the Globe, 2018 Globe photos: Tristram Kenton
Earlier this year, Paapa Essiedu, my second live Hamlet, reprised his role as the troubled son bound to avenge his father’s most unnatural death. Essiedu appeared on tour, away from the traditional grand Shakespearean venues, but in the finest of companies. He first played the Prince in this RSC production in 2016. As far as I can ascertain, Essiedu is the first black, African Hamlet in a major UK or US production. He is certainly the only black actor in the list of Hamlets below. If anyone knows differently, please email me with details via the Connected Cultures website.
Paapa Essiedu on tour with the RSC (2018)
photo: Manuel Harlan
Perhaps the most unlikely prince of all was a real prince who, in 2016, performed one line in the BBC celebrations for Shakespeare's 400th birthday. A host of pretend princes led the way on stage, all asking the same existential question. You know the one. And finally, to the apparent annoyance of the proper actors, hahaha!, Bonny Prince Charles strode onto the stage and asked that question his way.
First in line to the throne. A night with the stars at the BBC in 2016
A final note. When Hamlets come they come not single spies….
Especially in 1948, 1980, 1989 and 2000. And often, when the RSC mounts a production, a rival appears on stage at the National. This play really is the thing.
Year Actor Theatre
1601 Richard Burbage The Globe
1864 Henry Irving
1899 Sarah Bernhardt
1922 John Barrymore
1930 John Gielgud
1948 Laurence Olivier Movie
1948 Paul Scofield RSC
1948 Robert Helpman RSC
1953 Maurice Evans TV movie
1958 Michael Redgrave
1961 Ian Bannen RSC
1964 Richard Burton Broadway
1964 Christopher Plummer BBC TV
1965 David Warner RSC
1970 Alan Howard RSC
1970 Richard Chamberlain ITV
1970 Ian McKellen TV movie
1975 Ben Kingsley RSC
1980 Jonathan Pryce Royal Court
1980 Michael Pennington RSC
1980 Derek Jacobi TV movie
1980 Eric Morecambe TV Special
1984 Roger Rees RSC
1988 Kenneth Branagh Phoenix
1989 Daniel Day-Lewis National
1989 Ian Charleson National Theatre
1989 Mark Rylance RSC
1982 Christopher Walken American
1990 Mel Gibson Movie
1990 Kevin Kline New York
1992 Kenneth Branagh RSC
1994 Stephen Dillane Gielgud
1995 Keanu Reeves Manitoba
1995 Ralph Fiennes Broadway
1996 Kenneth Branagh Movie
1997 Alex Jennings RSC
2000 Ethan Hawke Movie
2000 Mark Rylance The Globe
2000 Simon Russell Beale National
2000 Campbell Scott TV movie
2001 Samuel West RSC
2004 Toby Stephens RSC
2004 Ben Whishaw Old Vic
2008 David Tennant RSC
2009 Jude Law Wyndham’s
2010 Rory Kinnear National
2011 Michael Sheen Young Vic
2013 Jonathan Slinger RSC
2014 Maxine Peake Royal Court
2015 Benedict Cumberbatch National
2016 Prince Charles et al BBC
2016 Paapa Essiedu RSC
2017 Tom Hiddleston Vanbrugh
2017 Andrew Scott Almeida
2018 Paapa Essiedu RSC
2018 Michelle Terry The Globe
Penultimate knight:
John Gielgud in 1930
Last knight:
Ben Kingsley in 1975
© Eddie Hewitt 2018
Links: The Connected Cultures Hamlet special: Review of the RSC’s Hamlet at the Hackney Empire The African Hamlet Words Words Words: favourite lines from Hamlet In a Nutshell: Hamlet - the Story The RSC: Hamlet Hackney Empire: Hamlet The Globe: Hamlet
Finis