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Awe inspiring
19 January 2024
We both thought that Hamnet was really well staged. The scenery was amazing. All the acting was good.
I liked the way it was very similar to the book .
I was close to tears when Hamnet died.
Rachel Bickley Confirmed ticket purchaser
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10 January 2024
Really enjoyed the performance
But theatre was cold and so much additional noise
Not the tube expected that but other noise seemed to be from the corridors ??
SM Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Not What I was Expecting
5 January 2024
I loved the book by O'Farrell which was why I wanted to see this play. Unfortunately the production felt under-parred and over-acted. I understand why the linear time scale was chosen, but this meant that Hamnet (who was far too old for this part) barely featured and his death scene, which should have been the harrowing emotional centre was strangely muted I was very disappointed when I left the theatre.
Mary Spencer Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Nice experience
1 January 2024
Very nice staging, excellent performances and an overall theatrical experience.
Dionysia Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Go and see Hamnet!
22 December 2023
I loved this play from start to finish. It is a beautiful and very moving story superbly acted. This is the kind of performance that stays with you long after the play is over.
Ruth Foden Confirmed ticket purchaser
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So moving
10 December 2023
A beautiful production of a book that o adored. Every character bought it to life but the lead, Agnes was phenomenal. It was so moving, poignant and thoughtful. It is sure to stay with you so much longer than you think. Highly recommend.
Aneesa Confirmed ticket purchaser
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As wonderful as the book
8 December 2023
Absolutely wonderful. The only complaint is quite difficult to see the actors when they climb the ladders plus the loud roars of the tubes disturb the performance…. But I’d still recommend snd go again!!! X
Sue Lansdale Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet
6 December 2023
My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed Hamnet. Well adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s book. A dynamic cast. It was very poignant and good to hear some Warwickshire accents (whether or not people spoke like that in Shakespeare’s day).
Caroline Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Good but
1 December 2023
The RSC overall production, stage set, lighting, costume etc was excellent. The acting was excellent.
However, having read the Maggie O'Farrell book, I was disappointed. The lyrical sensitive writing somehow didn't come across in the script / delivery and the characters did not shine, with the exception of Agnes.
The first half of the play was setting the scene, but was slow. The second half was like a completely different play and was much better culminating in a tender final scene. However I haven't thought about it much since and would be unlikely to recommend it.
Morton 1 Confirmed ticket purchaser
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26 November 2023
Sadly disappointing. Was so looking forward to the play, having spent money I could ill afford on expensive seats but I found the production pedestrian and sadly lacking the imagination and intensity of the book. The linear telling of the story seemed to concentrate on Shakespeare’s relationship with his father and other actors rather than him being a distant, fascinating figure, while Agnes/Anne seemed less wise, at one with nature, carer than hyperactive hysteric. I found the music intrusive and a lot of the acting was overblown, mannered with a lot of rushing around. It must be difficult to use younger actors in big roles but I couldn’t suspend my belief for Hamnet and his twin - they felt and looked like older characters and the poignancy of Hamnet’s death was missing.
Jan Hurst Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Not bad
18 November 2023
Great acting by all the cast but the script was not so compelling. I enjoyed the excursions into humour though. Being based on an excellent book possibly made it harder to stage. That the children were adults was initially confusing but they actually had to identify Hamnet by name in the script which shouldn't be necessary .
Jill Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet the book versus Hamnet the play.
18 November 2023
Having read Hamnet the book sometime ago and found it very absorbing and moving I was a little disappointed with the play, particularly the first half. Seemingly endless mock-ups of babies being born became somewhat tedious. And the play did not capture the relationship between Hamnet and his father with anywhere near the power of the relationship as described in the book. Overall then the play really did not get close to being as impressive as the book but the second half was not too bad and I have spent worst Friday evenings in the theatre!
Professor Brian Everitt Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Absorbing
18 November 2023
A very sensitive adaptation of the novel
Unfortunately the hearing aids did not work for my husband but the exchanges and actions on stage made clear much of the storyline
Loved the set. I felt I was in a Stratford house circa 1590
Valerie Maclean Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Outstanding production
17 November 2023
Atmospheric staging and sets; exquisite costumes and superlative acting from the whole cast. Excellent interpretation of the book with changes adding to the effectiveness of a theatrical version
Christine Dearing Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Excellent Production
14 November 2023
I read the book so was ready to be critical of the play asn so many miss the mark but this is a very fair adaptatio of the book.
Great atmosphere and very well stage maaged ro scenery and props which made everything simple but very effective.
Alice and Daphne Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Age demographic
10 November 2023
I noticed that the majority of the audience was of o middle to older demographic.
I would urge younger theatre goers to watch this also.
A wonderful exposition of the emotional side of Shakespeare. A tool maybe to explore his plays more thoroughly.
Wonderful and clever set, excellent direction and a stellar cast.
Hazel Burgin Confirmed ticket purchaser
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oh dear....
10 November 2023
Disappointingly boring. Some ok acting but the script is so mediocre and the 'story' not interesting. Agnes could have been developed a lot more. A bit shouty. As I overheard on leaving 'I tuned out after a very short while....'
Frustrated Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet
21 October 2023
I loved the book. It was so atmospheric and so moving. This production does not match the quality of the book and perhaps nothing could ever match it. I didn’t think the main actors (except for the one who played Hamnet) were overly strong in their roles. I’m pleased I saw it.
Joyce D. Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Disappointing
20 October 2023
Lacked rhythm Brief swatches of story line but really failing in depth and emotional balance . Paying over £100 per ticket for such poorly rendered lines that failed my partial awareness of events didn’t help
Fortunately l know it was just one unfortunate experience but it was a waste of money .
Jane Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet
20 October 2023
I am glad i saw the play, well acted, good movement around the stage, interesting set design.
only thing that jarred at the end were A's interventions during 'the play '- could have been enacted not spoken......
Well done and so glad it came to London.
I had not read the book my two companions had and thoroughly enjoyed the production..
s thornton Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Challenging adaption.
20 October 2023
Very mixed feelings as my anticipation was high. The acting was terrific notably Agnes Hathaway and Hamnet. My only reservation was that the sound was bad. The set seemed to absorb the actors' voices leaving very little support to efforts to project.
SamS Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet
17 October 2023
An excellent production. I had read the book and was concerned the spiritual side of Agnes would come across as being cliched but it was done beautifully. It is sentimental but it is about loss and death so inevitable.
Carolyn Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet
My opinion of the play
17 October 2023
I enjoyed it more than my companion who felt that it was confusing. We both loved the ingenious set.My main criticism is that some of the actors were inuadible but otherwise I loved it.
Donald Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Wonderful performance
14 October 2023
The entire cast were mesmerising and the story was beautifully adapted from the amazing book. I couldn't have enjoyed it more!
Sue Pegg Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Loved the book. Loved the play
13 October 2023
Outstanding theatre - taking a much loved book onto the stage is never easy but Hamnet was a brilliant adaptation and superbly performed
Micky Denehy Confirmed ticket purchaser
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A disappointing evening.
10 October 2023
Why has this play been such a success?
J . W Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Hamnet
10 October 2023
Acting was superb. However sadly the magic of O’Farrell’s writing is not translated into this play. Perhaps it was a little naive to expect it could. Set design clever. We enjoyed the evening
Jane Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Slick and moving production
9 October 2023
A very close and thoughtful representation of the novel of Hamnet. Although my seat said there was a slight restriction of the sight lines I was more irritated by the gentleman in front of me who continually lent forward and blocked most of the stage. However, instead of leaving in the interval my neighbour suggested we both move to seats more central that were free and an usher kindly agreed. Seeing the whole stage made a huge difference.
Maggie Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Brilliant adsptation
7 October 2023
I lived the novel and it’s a hard ask to compress such a rich book into just over two hours of theatre. But the RSC nailed it with brilliant casting, excellent direction and very moving performances. Thoroughly enjoyed the show.
Rosalind Freeborn Confirmed ticket purchaser
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7 October 2023
Found the staging slightly one dimensional. The relationships between William and Agnes, William and his grand father and father not fully explored. Wonderful acting by main parts but left me wanting more and a little under whelmed. Sorry!
William Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Good producion but overly ambitious
6 October 2023
Found the first half engaging and particularly liked the development of Agnes' character and the emotional energy that she brought to her relationships, but the second half was rushed and what should have been an emotional climax fell far short. It just felt too ambitious a project and visibly failed to capture the subtleties and developments of the book. If felt very unbalanced - it was called Hamnet but the emphasis, the characterisation and the centre stage were clearly given over to Agnes - the book pulls this off as it allows time for the themes to develop, but the play just felt uneven. The final scenes were unconvincing and didn't do justice at all to what is one of the greatest plays ever written.
Louise Davies Confirmed ticket purchaser
