Black Theatre Live present the Bard's Hamlet with an all black cast

For the first time in Britain, an all-black cast present Shakespeare's greatest tragedy - Hamlet - and you can see it at Peterborough's Key Theatre on September 27 and 28.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Sep 2016, 06:10 BST

Updated 5th Oct 2016, 14:46 BST

Black Theatre Live’s Hamlet is directed by Jeffrey Kissoon, a Trinidadian born, notable Shakespearean actor, working in supporting and leading roles in productions since the 70s with directors such as Robert Lepage, Peter Brook, Peter Hall, Simon McBurney, Calixto Bieto, Nicholas Hytner and Trevor Nunn.

Mark Norfolk has adapted the play, casting Hamlet as a studious young black man who’s forced to face the realities of his social identity, and rages against the injustice of his position. It was partially inspired by his work with young offenders, many of whom he feels are facing the same dilemma as Hamlet: they’ve had familial traumas, and are facing the fast-moving pace of an ever capitalist society - like the changing nation Hamlet finds himself in - and feel discarded and left behind.