See Who's Joining Hiran Abeysekera in Hamlet at BAM

The Olivier winner stars in this contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, straight from London's National Theatre.

February 11, 2026 By Margaret Hall

Hiran Abeysekera in Hamlet (Sam Taylor)

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. BAM and London's National Theatre are kicking off their new multi-year partnership with a production transfer of Hamlet.

Directed by Robert Hastie (Operation Mincemeat), this rendition of Shakespeare's classic stars Olivier winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) as the famed prince of Denmark. The production will play BAM's Harvey Theater this spring, running from April 19-May 17 for a strictly limited four week engagement. Opening night will be May 4.

Newly announced to be joining Abeysekera are Maureen Beattie (Yerma) as First Player, Joe Bolland (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Guildenstern, Matthew Cottle (The Windsors) as Polonius, Tim Dewberry (Antony & Cleopatra) as Marcellus/Captain, Ayesha Dharker (Doctor Who) as Gertrude, Ryan Ellsworth (The Motive and the Cue) as Ghost/Player King/First Gravedigger, Tom Glenister (A Doll’s House) as Laertes, Mary Higgins (Hamlet) as Osric/Voltemand, Liz Jadav (Pygmalion) as Nurse/Priest, Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer (Much Ado About Nothing) as Fortinbras, Hari Mackinnon (The Comedy of Errors) as Rosencrantz, Francesca Mills (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as Ophelia, Sophia Papadopoulos (Henry VI) as Cornelius/English Ambassador/Second Gravedigger, Alistair Petrie (Sex Education) as Claudius, Seb Slade (Chariots of Fire) as Francisco/Reynaldo, Noel White (Hamlet) as Bernardo, and Tessa Wong (Hamlet) as Horatio.

“As the National Theatre gears up to celebrate 60 years since taking our first production to the U.S., we are excited to be forging new paths with a multiyear collaboration at BAM—an iconic creative powerhouse in New York City,” says National Director and Co-Chief Executive Indhu Rubasingham in a statement. “It’s deeply fitting to bring Hamlet as our first production, a play with such profound and lasting legacy, especially here at the National Theatre. We can’t wait to share Robert Hastie’s bold and brilliant production and this extraordinary company with audiences in New York.”

"This is a kinetic, next-gen Hamlet that illuminates the human condition for the here and now," adds BAM Artistic Director Amy Cassello. "Robert Hastie's bold vision breaks convention with abandon. The cast is superb and this production is the perfect kickoff for our new multi-year alliance with the National Theatre."

The creative team for the production will include set and costume designer Ben Stones, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound designer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, composer Richard Taylor, choreographer Mandela Siobhan, and fight director Kate Waters, with associate director Georgie Straight. Casting is by Alastair Coomer and Martin Poile.

For more information, visit BAM.org/Hamlet.