Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet: First pictures of actor in iconic role at the Barbican
The actor's take on Shakespearian tragedy has been much anticipated
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Your support makes all the difference.Benedict Cumberbatch is seen drenched in sweat with his eyes glittering as he wields a dagger high above his head as Hamlet.
The first photos have emerged of the Sherlock actor’s take on the iconic role at the Barbican in London.
Director Lindsay Turner has appeared to put a modern twist on the Shakespearian play, with Cumberbatch donning jumpers, T-shirts and an anorak.
One photo of the production sees the 39-year-old sat at a candle-lit table, surrounded by deer antlers and stuffed birds
Other pictures show Cumberbatch dressed for fencing with Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s Laertes and kneeling on the floor with Anastasia Hille, who plays Hamlet’s mother.
Cumberbatch fans have been queuing overnight for tickets for the eagerly-awaited production, which has become one of the fastest-selling shows in British history.
Preview performances started last week to mixed reviews, which were controversially published by some newspapers weeks before the official opening night on 25 August.
Telegraph critic Serena Davies wrote that Cumberbatch “commands and surprises” in what she called a “lavish, epic Hamlet” but the Times was less complimentary.
Giving a rating of two stars, Katie Maltby started her review with the line “Alas, poor Benedict” and condemned the production as ”pure theatrical self-indulgence“.
Daily Mail reviewer Jan Moir praised Cumberbatch's ”Hamlet in a hoodie” as “electrifying“, while the Radio Times said it excelled at ”finding laughs in unexpected places”.
Actors including Eddie Marsan, who recently played magician Gilbert Norrell in BBC adaptation Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, was among those taking to Twitter to criticise the early reviews.
The Independent will be publishing its review after the official opening night later this month.
Hamlet will run until 31 October, with Sian Brooke playing Ophelia and Ciaran Hinds as Claudius.
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