Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a collaboration combining Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Radiohead’s 2003 album, will have its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre this autumn. The production, co-created by Thom Yorke and previously staged by the RSC, merges classic tragedy with contemporary music.

Hamlet Hail to the Thief is set to run at the Barbican from 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027 following earlier seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Factory International. The production adapts Shakespeare’s tragedy through a score built from Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief album, reworked by Thom Yorke and performed live by a mixed company of musicians and actors.

The piece was co-created by Yorke alongside Christine Jones and Steven Hoggett, with Jones adapting the text and Hoggett contributing to the overall staging. The story follows Hamlet and Ophelia as they navigate themes of corruption and political unrest in Elsinore, reimagined through the music that underscored political anxieties in Radiohead’s album.

The work first premiered at Aviva Studios in Manchester before transferring to Stratford-upon-Avon. It has previously received three nominations for WhatsOnStage Awards, reflecting its recognition within the theatre community.

Thom Yorke said of the upcoming London run: “I’m into finally bringing Hamlet Hail to The Thief to London, and to the Barbican of all places! It is fascinating and very strange to me how this came to life and how it has worked. When it revealed itself to us over time I was shocked, having never had this kind of experience before.”

The initial cast includes Samuel Blenkin as Hamlet and Alby Baldwin as Horatio, with further company members yet to be announced. The creative team features Yorke as orchestrator, Justin Levine as arranger, Jess Williams as choreographer, and Lisa Duncan as costume designer among others.

Charlotte Sutton is responsible for casting for the RSC, and Ayanna Thompson acts as dramaturg and textual consultant. Tickets for the Barbican run go on general sale on 26 June 2026.

This production offers a distinctive blend of Shakespearean drama with contemporary music, exemplifying a growing trend of innovative reinterpretations in British theatre.