Harry Reed and Joseph Ryan-Hughes discuss Horatio and Hamlet, their Shakespeare remix
Harry Reed, adaptor and director of Horatio and Hamlet, and Joseph Ryan-Hughes, the production’s Hamlet, delve into the creative process behind their reimagined version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Set in the intimacy of a student flat, this bold production strips back the classic tragedy to focus on the friendship between Hamlet and Horatio.
Join us as they explore the inspiration behind the show, its fresh take on mental health, and why they’re turning this iconic story on its head. With unexpected twists and quirky props, this is Shakespeare like you’ve never seen it before.
“To be, or not to be… with us today, that is the question!“ Welcome, Harry and Joe! Please introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about your involvement in Horatio & Hamlet.
Harry Reed: Hi, I’m Harry Reed – the adaptor and director of Horatio & Hamlet. I’m also the founder of Series2 Theatre Company, which is co-producing this production.
Joseph Ryan-Hughes: Hello! I’m Joe (Joseph Ryan-Hughes), and I’m playing Hamlet. I’m also co-producing this production with Series2 through my theatre company, Just a Regular House.
Why did you choose the Barons Court Theatre for this production?
HR: It’s a wonderfully intimate venue in the basement of a pub – a perfect fit to create our setting, which is a messy living room of a student flat. Horatio & Hamlet is playing at the Barons Court Theatre, Monday to Saturday, until the 12th of October.
What can audiences expect from this retelling of Hamlet?
HR: Audiences can expect a retelling of Hamlet in a way they have never seen before. It’s a brand new seventy minute version that uses the classical text to focus solely on the relationship of Horatio and Hamlet.
What was the inspiration behind this new take on the play?
HR: I wanted to create works that remove all preconceived notions of what performing Shakespeare is – stripping away all stereotypes that could be assigned to Shakespeare due to the historic lack of representation and diversity previously seen in Shakespeare’s canon- and by doing so, breaking down any idea of ‘I can’t play that role’ that someone may have. I want everyone who sees my work to be excited that the joy of Shakespeare is, and always will be, available to them.
How long have you been developing this adaptation?
HR: I’ve been working and reworking this adaptation on and off for a couple of years. It has gone through many different iterations and often required me to take a step away for sometime and return with a fresh mindset. Reworking Shakespeare in a way that some may call blasphemy is very humbling and warrants a realistic perspective.
Is the final version what you originally envisioned, or has it evolved?
HR: The version you see at Barons Court Theatre is far beyond what I imagined this show could be. It has challenged me deeply but produced a creativity and courage that I didn’t know I had. I’m incredibly proud of this work and everyone involved with it.
Joe, what excites you most about your portrayal of Hamlet?
JRH: He feels a bit like a coming of age character – at least in our production. The loss of his father and love to his mother has made him lose any sense of purpose in his university life, so he has locked himself away in his student flat to do bong hits and drink beer. I really enjoy playing this youthful side of Hamlet, that is searching for purpose in a completely helpless way.
What do you hope audiences take away from your version of Hamlet?
JRH: I hope they feel for him, at least a little. I mean, he’s in a pretty horrid situation to begin with, but he also doesn’t help himself sometimes. I hope audiences see a little bit of themselves in him, a young person just trying to do something that they believe in.
Harry, what’s your favourite element of the show?
HR: My favourite element of the show is the access we have to the relationship of Horatio & Hamlet. They share the truest form of friendship and to watch Joe and Alex Dean (who plays Horatio) portray that on stage is utterly captivating.
What’s been the biggest challenge in bringing your vision to life?
HR: Balancing my roles as both the director and adaptor. In order to do my job as a director and allow the appropriate creative process to take shape within rehearsals, I needed to approach this script without bias. That is easier said than done when you are also the adaptor of the script and those two roles often butted heads.
Who do you imagine enjoying the show the most?
JRH: I would imagine our production would be right up the streets of those audience members who enjoy a bit of Shakespeare, but fancy a completely new take on the original story.
Has this version of the play been performed before?
JRH: No, but also yes. 2 years ago we put on a production of Hamlet that had the same premise – just the two boys set in a student flat. We ran for 4 nights at the Lion and Unicorn and had a great time with it, but it was quite workshoppy. No sound, and limited lighting. We revisited the script this year and did a lot more work to iron out the kinks, and to make the story more accessible.
What comes next after this run—for the show or for you?
JRH: For now, no concrete plans, but I do love performing this version of Hamlet. Hopefully, we’ll be able to explore more opportunities in the future.
Is there one question we really should have asked you already?
JRH: Does Yorick appear? Of course he does! Just not how you’d expect…He would have to be the mascot for the show, if we had one.
Will you be frequenting the bar after your show, and if so, are you hoping people might stay to ask you about the show?
JRH: Absolutely! We’ll be at the bar after the show, and I’d love to chat with people about their thoughts, especially on how we’ve reshuffled the story.
What’s the weirdest or most unconventional prop you’ve used?
HR: There’s this teddy bear that has the words “for educational purposes only” printed on it’s belly. We had him on the set two years ago for the first production, and it’s made a comeback for this one. We just can’t figure out why the bear has to be used ONLY for educational uses… Seems a bit mean!
How do you hope this show impacts the audience after they leave the theatre?
JRH: Our production focuses on friendship and mental health, particularly between men. I hope the play reminds people of those friends closest to them, and what it is to be there and support them through a tough time. Maybe they check in on them, or reflect on how a friend was there for them during a tough time.
What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career, and how has it shaped this show?
HR: My drama teacher at school, who was directing me in a Shakespeare play (I think Twelfth Night…) used to always say “tell the story, just tell the story”. That simple phrase really helped me to focus on just that, storytelling. It is especially important in our adaptation because we have changed so much of the original play to fit into one room with only two characters!
Thanks to Harry and Joe. Horatio & Hamlet is being playing at Barons Court Theatre until 12th October. Further information and tickets are available here.
