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National Theatre Live: Hamlet poster
6.5 / 10(2 votes)IMDb20262h 40mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: Hamlet

“'The play's the thing'”

Synopsis

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Are you watching closely? Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question—you know the one. Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare's famous tragedy. National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky's Edge, Operation Mincemeat) directs this sharp, stylish and darkly funny reimagining.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

Hamlet | Official Trailer | National TheatreOfficial

Type: Trailer • Published 2025-05-08

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

January 22, 2026

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Robert Hastie, Christine Lalla
Screenplay & Story
William Shakespeare
Original Score
Richard Taylor
Original Title
National Theatre Live: Hamlet
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
2h 40m
Production Studios
National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Robert Hastie, Christine Lalla

Screenplay & Story

William Shakespeare

Original Score & Music

Richard Taylor

Department Leadership Roster

Robert Hastie

Director

Christine Lalla

Director

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Hamlet.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Hamlet.

National Theatre Live

All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.

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Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: Hamlet

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is National Theatre Live: Hamlet about?

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Are you watching closely? Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question—you know the one. Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare's famous tragedy. National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky's Edge, Operation Mincemeat) directs this sharp, stylish and darkly funny reimagining.

Who directed National Theatre Live: Hamlet?

National Theatre Live: Hamlet was directed by Robert Hastie, Christine Lalla.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: Hamlet?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Hamlet includes Hiran Abeysekera, Alistair Petrie, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Ayesha Dharker, Francesca Mills.

When was National Theatre Live: Hamlet released and how long is it?

National Theatre Live: Hamlet was released in 2026 with a total runtime of 2h 40m.

Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: Hamlet?

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Hamlet was composed by Richard Taylor.