WISH-LIST WEDNESDAY: Hamnet
- James Tradgett
- May 7
- 2 min read
PREMIERED: 2023 (RSC Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon)
PLAYWRIGHT: Lolita Chakrabarti
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I'm back with another play this week, and one that built up a lot of buzz after being adapted to the screen, subsequently being nominated for 8 Academy Awards, with Jessie Buckley winning for her leading performance as Agnes. Originally a novel by Maggie O'Farrell, "Hamnet" tells the true story of William Shakespeare's only son, who died at the age of 11 in the summer of 1596, as well as the circumstances surrounding his marriage to Anne Hathaway, and how the untimely passing of the titular figure inspired his father's late tragedy "Hamlet". The writing of the original novel came as a response to how little Hamnet himself is mentioned in biographical material and literary criticism, as outlined by its author O'Farrell in an interview.
The story also goes into detail about childhood illness, and the effect that can have on families, no matter what comes next, the original author having gone through the fear of potentially losing her own child, who contracted meningitis at the age of four. This in particular is something which with I can relate quite strongly, being someone who is also a childhood meningitis survivor, and knowing how profoundly this can affect a parent. Lolita Chakrabarti (Life of Pi) adapted the story to the stage in 2023, originally premiering at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon before transferring to the Garrick Theatre in the west end later that year.
In spite of a positive critical response and commercial success, including sold-out runs at both the Swan and the Garrick (breaking box office records at the former), the play was snubbed entirely by the Olivier Awards in 2024, and has not returned to the stage since. With the popularity and success of the movie adaptation, the story most certainly has an audience, so there is no reason why it couldn't experience a second wind on the stage...
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Did you see "Hamnet" on stage? What are your thoughts on the show? Let me know down below, or via my Instagram page.
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