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National Theatre Live: Hamlet poster
7.5 / 10(55 votes)IMDb20153h 37mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: Hamlet

Synopsis

As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father's death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state.

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

October 15, 2015

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Robin Lough, Lyndsey Turner
Screenplay & Story
William Shakespeare
Original Score
Jon Hopkins
Original Title
National Theatre Live: Hamlet
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
3h 37m
Production Studios
National Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Robin Lough, Lyndsey Turner

Screenplay & Story

William Shakespeare

Original Score & Music

Jon Hopkins

Producers

Emma Keith, David Sabel, Donna Munday, Pam Skinner, Sonia Friedman

Department Leadership Roster

Robin Lough

Robin Lough

Director

Emma Keith

Producer

Katrina Lindsay

Costume Design

Sonia Friedman

Producer

Lyndsey Turner

Director

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United Kingdom (BBFC)12A

12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.

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

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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?

As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father's death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state.

Who directed National Theatre Live: Hamlet?

National Theatre Live: Hamlet was directed by Robin Lough, Lyndsey Turner.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: Hamlet?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Hamlet includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciarán Hinds, Anastasia Hille, Sian Brooke, Jim Norton.

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

National Theatre Live: Hamlet was released in 2015 with a total runtime of 3h 37m.

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

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Hamlet was composed by Jon Hopkins.

What is the age rating and content advisory for National Theatre Live: Hamlet?

National Theatre Live: Hamlet holds official age classifications: GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.).