# This extraordinary new Hamlet turns Shakespeare inside out with infinite jest – and cuddly toys

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/this-extraordinary-new-hamlet-turns-shakespeare-inside-out-with-infinite-jest-and-cuddly-toys/
- Published: 2026-11-06T05:00:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T05:21:14+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/nov/06/the-last-hamlet-review-sadlers-wells-east
- Topics: Culture

## Key points

- Ben Duke gives Hamlet a surreal, contemporary reworking.
- Cuddly toys play several of the Shakespearean characters.
- The show explores grief, masculinity and action versus inaction.

## Summary

Ben Duke’s *The Last Hamlet* reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy as a witty, contemporary performance, using absurdity and humour to examine grief, masculinity and indecision. Its playful approach also asks whether a familiar story can still speak to urgent questions, including the tension between talking about suffering and taking action.

Duke’s character misses his father’s funeral while at a silent retreat, then stages the play with cuddly toys standing in for most of the cast, including a goose as Gertrude and a snake as Claudius. Dancers Miguel Altunaga and Hannah Shepherd play human roles, while singer-songwriter Anna B Savage performs live. The production is at Sadler’s Wells East until 7 November and will tour in 2027.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.