‘To be or not to be, that is the question.’
Stafford Gatehouse Shakespeare proudly presents HAMLET which will run from 24 June until 5 July 2025.
Starring BENEDICT SHAW (Boat Story BBC, The Syndicate, Emmerdale) and directed by award-winning RICHARD CHESHIRE, The Bard’s twisty tale of madness, murder and revenge is one of his best-loved plays.
Hamlet returns home from university to find that, not only is his father newly dead, but that his mother, Gertrude, has quickly married his father’s brother, Claudius, who is now king.
The royal turmoil has led to threats of invasion and one night soon afterwards, the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to him, accusing Claudius of his murder and urging Hamlet to revenge.
But how will Hamlet succeed? Thus begins a tale of madness, betrayal and revenge that threatens to destroy both kingdom and family.
Burnished with William Shakespeare’s most-quoted lines, this is a production that brings to life some of the most famous characters in history.
In keeping with the very best traditions of Stafford Shakespeare, it seeks to present one of The Bard’s best-loved plays in a fast-paced and accessible way to suit modern audiences.
Cast
Hamlet – Benedict Shaw
A born and bred Staffordian, Benedict grew up in Rowley Park and attended Blessed William Howard High School. A boyhood member of the Gatehouse Youth Theatre, he has gone on to have a successful stage and TV career, appearing in BOAT STORY (BBC1), EMMERDALE (ITV1) Kay Mellor’s THE SYNDICATE.
Claudius – Sean O’Callaghan
Staffordshire-raised Sean trained at RADA and has worked on stage, TV and films for almost 40 years. His acting credits include HENRY V, ROMEO AND JULIET, RICHARD II (ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY), THE LAST ROMANTICS (BBC) and CASUALTY (BBC).
Gertrude – Ilinos Daniel
Ilinos is making her Stafford Shakespeare debut as Gertrude in HAMLET and comes with a host of acting experience over many years as a professional actor. She trained at Royal Holloway University of London and Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and has appeared in TORCHWOOD (BBC) and THE LIGHT IN THE HALL (S4C, CHANNEL 4).
Ophelia – Amy Tara
Amy trained at the Arden School of Theatre and has recently appeared in feature films ASSASSINS GUILD, GROUPCHAT and DREAM (all 2024). Her stage credits include THE BORROWERS and INDIGO GIANT.
Polonius – Sean McKenzie
Hailing from the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border, Sean trained at RADA and previously played Lord Capulet in ROMEO + JULIET at Stafford Castle in 2022. His TV credits include VERA (ITV), BIRDSONG (Working Title) and BILLIONAIRE BOY (BBC). Other stage credits include THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at the National Theatre.
Guildenstern – Lucinda Freeburn
Stafford Shakespeare ‘veteran’ Lucinda trained at the National Youth Theatre and this will be her third spell at the Gatehouse, having previously appeared in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and TWELFTH NIGHT: A CORNISH TALE. A skilled violinist, other credits include ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS and THE NUTCRACKER (New Vic Theatre).
Laertes – Matthew Khan
Matthew stars as lead character Jared Jones in BBC’s WATERLOO ROAD. He can also be seen in the TV series of the New York Times Bestseller, A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER which streamed globally to No. 1 on Netflix. He has also appeared in the hit Sky series BRASSIC.
Horatio – Alex Wadham
Staffordshire-born and raised, Alex has a long list of stage credits including A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Oddsocks) and THE MOUSETRAP. His TV credits include the hit show THE TOYS THAT BUILT AMERICA (History Channel).
Conor Price – Cast/Understudy
Cannock-based Conor wowed the creative team with his audition and will be making his professional debut in Stafford Shakespeare’s HAMLET. A graduate from the University of Staffordshire, he is artistic director of highly-acclaimed theatre troupe Lucid Spark, who premiered their STAR CROSSED FOOLS production at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2024.
Creative Details
Director Richard Cheshire
How much do the tickets cost?
Tickets are priced from £28.50-£34 (concessions and group discount available).
How do I book tickets to watch Hamlet at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre?
Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting their website here.
How long is the show for and what are the timings?
The show will start on Tuesday, 24 June and will run until Saturday, 5 July 2025. The evening shows will run at 7pm while the matinee shows will be shown at 2pm on 28 June and 5 July.
Where is Stafford Gatehouse Theatre?
Stafford Gatehouse is an old Victorian theatre for professional and amateur shows, including Shakespeare and children’s plays. In 2007, the Borough Hall was reopened as Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, by his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. The Borough Hall was originally opened on 20 June 1877 and the building once housed Stafford Borough Council.
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
Eastgate Street
Stafford
ST16 2LT
Tel: 01785 619080
Where to park?
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is in the heart of Stafford, just seconds from the main shopping centre and central tourist attractions. It is less than 10 minutes drive from Junctions 13 and 14 of the M6 and can be found by following the theatre mask symbols on routes into the town centre. There are ample parking facilities a short walk away from the theatre and cycle racks are available outside the building.
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Photo credit: Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
