Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
This extraordinary new Hamlet turns Shakespeare inside out with infinite jest – and cuddly toys
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.
In short
- 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.