Trevor Nunn's Hamlet to close 31 July 2004

Trevor Nunn's Hamlet to close 31 July 2004

Hamlet , which extended four weeks to 28 Aug 2004 only 2 weeks ago, will now close as originally planned on 31 July 2004 at the Old Vic Theatre .

Directed by Trevor Nunn, the play opened on 27 April 2004, following previews from 17 April, to superb notices from the popular press, with particularly good notices for Ben Wishaw as 'Hamlet': NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "No Hamlet has made a more powerful or emotional impact..." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "There are many things to recommend in Nunn's production." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Whishaw...presents the most raw and vulnerable Hamlet I have ever seen.....This old, and perhaps over familiar, play suddenly seems wonderfully fresh, urgent and young again." IAN JOHNS for THE TIMES says, "This production is like Whishaw's performance, bursting with familial grief but lacking the essential nobility to make it truly tragic." ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "Ben Whishaw ...an electrifying performance."

Al Weaver plays Hamlet on all Monday evenings and all matinees!

It is designed by John Gunter, with costumes by Mark Bouman, lighting by David Hersey. The production will have original music composed by Steve Edif. The play is produced by Old Vic Productions plc, Ron Kastner and Background.

This new production takes a fresh look at the play through contemporary eyes. Nunn has gathered an ensemble of the best of the country's young acting talent in order to do so; he says, "Something extraordinary happens when the characters who are students in Shakespeare's story are being played by people of student age".