The complete cast for Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a production fusing Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Radiohead’s 2003 album, has been announced ahead of its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre. The show, previously nominated for three WhatsOnStage Awards, runs from 31 October 2026 to 23 January 2027.

Hamlet Hail to the Thief arrives in London following runs at Manchester and Stratford-upon-Avon. The production uniquely blends Shakespeare’s tragedy with the music of Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief album, reworked for live theatre by Thom Yorke.

Samuel Blenkin reprises his role as Hamlet, having performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Factory International. Ami Tredrea joins the cast as Ophelia, while Paul Hilton and Claudia Harrison return as Claudius/Ghost and Gertrude respectively.

The company also includes Alby Baldwin as Horatio, Brandon Grace as Laertes, and Felipe Pacheco as Guildenstern. Romaya Weaver plays Barnarda/Player Queen, with Marienella Phillips serving as the offstage swing.

New additions announced today complete the ensemble: Nicolas Tennant takes on Polonius, Merryl Ansah covers Gravedigger and understudies Gertrude, and Miles Barrow understudies Rosencrantz and Hamlet. Halim Diwani makes his professional stage debut understudying Laertes, Horatio, and Guildenstern, while Gavin James understudies Claudius and Polonius.

Radiohead’s original band members return, including Ed Begley (vocals), Tom Brady (music supervisor and keys), and Jenny Clifford (guitars), supported by additional cover singers Emilio Moreno Arias and Josephina Ortiz Lewis. Yorke serves as orchestrator, with AMP featuring Sadra Tehrani as scenographer and Jess Williams handling choreography.

Other key creative roles include Gareth Fry as sound designer, Will Duke on projections, Jessica Hung Han Yun designing lighting, and Lisa Duncan on costumes. Casting is by Charlotte Sutton for the RSC, with dramaturgy and textual consultancy by Ayanna Thompson, and Jack Moulton as sound manipulator.

Hamlet Hail to the Thief’s arrival at the Barbican marks its first London run, continuing a trend of innovative theatre that combines classical texts with contemporary music and multimedia design.