Hamlet Meets Radiohead: Bold Barbican Show Opens in London

A striking new theatrical crossover opened at the Barbican Centre on Friday 31 October 2026, combining Shakespeare's Hamlet with Radiohead's sixth album, Hail to the Thief. Directed by Steven Hoggett, the production had its original incarnation in Manchester before transferring to the Barbican, where it runs through 23 January 2027. Hoggett has said the show was tweaked for its London debut. While the melding of classical text and Radiohead's music was never going to be entirely friction-free, the production has been praised for delivering moments of pure magic, a terrific cast and great songs. It is, as observers have noted, simply kind of awesome that Thom Yorke is involved in a Shakespeare play at all — making this one of the most unconventional theatre experiences in the capital this winter.