Radiohead’s ‘Hamlet Hail to the Thief’ Heads to London’s Barbican With ‘Alien: Earth’ Star Samuel Blenkin
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- Hamlet Hail to the Thief opens at London’s Barbican Theatre on Oct. 31, running through Jan. 23, 2027, marking its London premiere after sold‑out runs at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Aviva Studios.
- Samuel Blenkin reprises the title role of Hamlet, having previously appeared as the lead in “Alien: Earth” on FX and Bong Joon‑ho’s “Mickey 17”.
- Steven Hoggett co‑created and co‑directed the production with theatre artist Christine Jones, while Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke reworked the 2003 album “Hail to the Thief” for the show.
- Thom Yorke says the Barbican’s brutalist space feels fated for the “brutal play”, emphasizing the production’s relevance to the “convulsed world”.
- ATC Music Group presents the production alongside Vivek J. Tiwary for TEG+ and Nate Koch, indicating multiple production partners.
- Radiohead’s 2003 album “Hail to the Thief”, recorded after Sept. 11 and the War on Terror, provides dystopian themes that are performed live onstage alongside Shakespeare’s text.
Why it matters: The Barbican adds an experimental‑theatre run, while the production’s cast and creators reach a broader London audience after sold‑out shows at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Aviva Studios, underscoring the commercial appeal of genre‑blending theatre and reinforcing the venue’s reputation for bold, hybrid performances.
