Michael Sheen takes on one of the greatest Shakespearean roles in the canon, Hamlet.

All is not well in the state of Denmark. Prince Hamlet is mourning the death of his father, while his mother is newly wed to his uncle, the now King of Denmark. When the ghost of his father appears and suggests his death was foul play, Hamlet must wrestle with conscience, guilt and loyalty as he decides to avenge his father’s murder.

Sheen came to the public eye with his portrayal of former British PM Tony Blair in The Deal, The Queen and The Special Relationship. Since then he has played Brian Clough in The Damned United, Kenneth Williams in Fantabulosa! and David Frost in Frost/Nixon, a performance he created on stage at the Donmar Warehouse. His screen work also includes Tron Legacy, The Twilight Saga, Underworld, Blood Diamond and Dirty Filthy Love, while on stage he has been acclaimed for performances in Amadeus, Look Back In Anger and Caligula.

Sheen is directed in Hamlet by Ian Rickson, the former Artistic Director of the Royal Court, who tackles Shakespeare for the first time. Rickson’s directorial credits include The Seagull starring Kristin Scott Thomas, the hugely successful production of Jerusalem at the Royal Court and West End, and Parlour Song at the Almeida theatre.

For more about Hamlet at the Young Vic read the First Night Feature.