Review: Hamlet, Polka Theatre

Under the skilful direction of Michel Judge, New International Encounter deliver a slick, thoughtful and thoroughly contemporary Hamlet for audiences aged 8-12. This is Shakespeare pared right back, without ever feeling patronising or dumbed down – a confident distillation of a big, baggy tragedy into a sharp, accessible hour.

The stage picture is sparse and beautifully considered by designer Rachana Jadhav. A single, heavy curtain frames the action, while a suitcase is unpacked to reveal a handful of props and instruments that become the engine of the storytelling. Each object is chosen with care: a cloak signifies Ophelia, woven and laced with flowers and weeds, quietly foreshadowing her drowning. Nothing is wasted; nothing feels accidental. While the pop-up style of theatre-making – actors stepping in and out of character, explaining who they are and who they’re playing – isn’t new, here it’s handled with ease, charm and deceptive simplicity by the cast (Jodie Cuaresma, Greg Hall and Abayomi Oniyide).

From the moment Hamlet and Horatio arrive on the castle parapet (the actors simply standing on top of a suitcase, looking down from the castle walls and on the imagined court below), it’s clear this is inventive, intelligent theatre. The Year 5 audience I watched was transfixed. A notoriously long and complex play is condensed into just over an hour, without losing emotional weight or narrative clarity.

Live music created by Hall drives the piece and is beautifully played and sung using cello, guitar and percussion. One standout moment sees Ophelia’s death told through layered vocal loops, the sound building and enveloping the space until her tragedy lands with real force. This is a finely tuned ensemble who trust each other completely, and that confidence creates a strong, generous rapport with the audience.

Audience participation is used sparingly and brilliantly. Two children are invited onstage to re-enact the poisoning of Hamlet’s father. Carefully coached, they play out the scene with delight – the ‘sleeping’ king snoring happily before waking in mock horror as poison is poured into their ear. This kind of interaction can so easily tip into tokenism, but here it feels integral, playful and respectful.

There’s plenty of paraphrase and contemporary language, and moments where the actors gently explain what’s happening. Yet when Shakespeare’s original text is used – particularly in Hamlet’s soliloquies and his exchanges with Horatio – it feels natural, accessible and alive. The young audience is invited to enjoy the rhythm and poetry of the language while staying crystal clear about the big ideas: identity, revenge, loyalty, love and the search for meaning. Framed this way, Hamlet suddenly feels startlingly contemporary; a story about truth, power and moral confusion that still speaks directly to our modern world shaped by violence, misogyny and uncertainty.

There are some additional cheeky, well-judged nods to pop culture. A brief moment where the actors riff on heartbreak through a bit of Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande (lasting all of 20 seconds) prompts delighted recognition and spontaneous singing from the audience. It’s a neat reminder that Shakespeare was writing about exactly the same emotional territory as today’s musical heroes. This is quality theatre: inventive, respectful of its audience, and quietly ambitious in what it asks young people to engage with. It’s a smart, portable Hamlet that proves big ideas travel well – even when they’re packed into a suitcase.

Director: Michael Judge
Designer: Rachana Jadhav
Lighting Designer: Trui Malten & Ash Day
Composer: Greg Hall
Technical Stage Manager: Simon Perkins

Hamlet is aimed at ages 8-12 and runs at Polka Theatre until Sunday 1 February
before going on tour until Monday 16 February