In Hamlet: Hail to the Thief, the Royal Shakespeare Company delivers a bold, electrifying adaptation where Shakespeare’s tragedy collides with the haunting sound of Radiohead. Going into the theatre, I didn’t know what I was expecting because I knew nothing about Radiohead, but I actually really liked this adaptation. The music isn’t just background but a vital part of the storytelling. Radiohead’s experimental and emotionally charged tracks are woven directly into the story of Hamlet, creating a powerful atmosphere that enhances every moment of tension, confusion, and grief.
Right from the beginning of the play, the music creates the feeling and emotional tone of Hamlet’s world. The sound pulses like the heartbeat that makes the audience feel nervous, alert, and like something bad could happen at any moment. This sets the tone for a world on edge, where characters are constantly watched, judged, and pushed toward emotional extremes. The songs are not just layered under the dialogue but become part of the action. The characters sing, scream, or move in time with the music, blending Radiohead’s lyrics with Shakespeare’s words in a way that feels natural and urgent.
Hamlet’s inner turmoil, a central theme of the original play, becomes even more intense when mirrored by the music. Radiohead’s themes of alienation and distrust are a perfect match for Hamlet’s journey. When Hamlet questions reality, loyalty, and life itself, the music seems to echo his spiraling thoughts, making his emotional descent feel all the more raw and immediate.
Ophelia’s arc is also transformed through music. The moments between her and Hamlet are given new weight through sound, sometimes soft and intimate, sometimes chaotic and distorted. She eventually unravels and becomes not just a quiet tragedy, but a loud, almost painful emotional explosion underscored by crashing sound and movement.
Overall, music in Hamlet: Hail to the Thief is not just a background. It deepens the emotional stakes, draws out the characters’ psychological struggles, and creates an atmosphere that pulls the audience deeper into the play’s themes of paranoia, corruption, and loss. This adaptation was a great one, and I enjoyed it so much.
Theatre in London U of A 