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Hamlet Hail to the Thief, orchestrated by Thom Yorke, begins in Manchester
Hamlet Hail to the Thief gave its first performance on 27 April in the South Warehouse at Aviva Studios, Manchester, the home of Factory International. Christine Jones adapted Shakespeare's play with Steven Hoggett, and the two direct it, setting it to a deconstructed Hail to the Thief that Thom Yorke has reworked and orchestrated. Yorke's part in it was announced last September.
Press night is 7 May. Factory International makes the production with the Royal Shakespeare Company and ATC Experience, and after Manchester it plays the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for most of June. The show runs about an hour and 50 minutes, with no interval.
Samuel Blenkin plays Hamlet and Ami Tredrea Ophelia, and Paul Hilton doubles as Claudius and the Ghost.
The music is played live on stage. Justin Levine arranged it for six players and two singers, and Radiohead are not among them.
The 2025 runs
| Date | Venue | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 27 April | Aviva Studios, Manchester | First performance |
| 7 May | Aviva Studios, Manchester | Press night |
| 18 May | Aviva Studios, Manchester | Last Manchester performance (5pm) |
| 4 June | Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon | First Stratford performance |
| 12 June | Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford opening night |
| 28 June | Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon | Last performance |
from the record
Go to Sleep · The promo, directed by Alex Rutterford.· Radioheadwatch on youtube →