Jude Law takes on Shakespeare’s most famous leading man, Hamlet.

Prince Hamlet’s father has recently died, and his mother has wasted no time before marrying her dead husband’s brother, Claudius. When Hamlet sees his father’s ghost, who reveals he was murdered by Claudius, he is moved to revenge, faking his own madness to try and discover the truth.

Law, who is best known for his film work including The Talented Mr Ripley, Road To Perdition and Cold Mountain, has an extensive theatrical background including appearances in productions of Dr Faustus and ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore at the Young Vic.

Law is joined in Hamlet by Penelope Wilton as Gertrude and Kevin McNally as Claudius. Both actors have worked frequently in the West End. Wilton has numerous credits at the Donmar Warehouse, including The Chalk Garden, for which she collected a Laurence Olivier Award nomination earlier this year. 

The cast is directed by Michael Grandage, Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, who has directed all four shows  in the Donmar West End seaon, of which this is the last.

For more about Hamlet at the Wyndham’s theatre read our First Night Feature or the Big Interview with Kevin R McNally.