Hit stage show Hamnet is heading out on a UK and Ireland tour after its success in the West End.
The Royal Shakespeare Company and Neal Street production will open at The Lowry in Salford on 25 September 2027, before travelling to theatres across the country and Ireland.
The tour will visit Newcastle, Cornwall, Norwich, Nottingham, Canterbury, Birmingham, Glasgow and Bath, with the play also staged at Belfast’s Grand Opera House in January 2028 and additional performances planned for York and Southampton. Further dates and locations are to be announced.
Key facts
- What: Hamnet, the RSC/Neal Street stage production, announces a UK and Ireland tour
- Opens: The Lowry, Salford, 25 September 2027
- Then: Newcastle, Cornwall, Norwich, Nottingham, Canterbury, Birmingham, Glasgow, Bath
- Also: Belfast’s Grand Opera House in January 2028; York and Southampton to follow
- Based on: Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel, adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti
- West End: Transferred to the Garrick Theatre after premiering at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 2023
The story
Written by Maggie O’Farrell, the story imagines the life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Hathaway, as they navigate the heartache of losing their 11-year-old son, Hamnet.
Set in 16th-century Warwickshire, the play explores themes of family, grief and love in the shadow of literary greatness.
The real Hamnet Shakespeare died in 1596, aged 11. His name and his father’s most famous character’s name — Hamlet — were interchangeable in the period, and Hamlet was written just a few years after the boy’s death. The play draws on that connection, exploring the private world of one of history’s most celebrated writers and the loss that may have shaped some of his greatest work.
Adapted for the stage by acclaimed playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, the play originally premiered at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2023 before transferring to London’s West End.
What the creators said
Maggie O’Farrell, author of the original novel, said: “It’s wonderful to know that the RSC/Neal Street production of Hamnet is embarking on a tour of the UK.”
“The production goes from strength to strength and it’s lovely that more people will get to see it.”
Ms Chakrabarti said: “I am so thrilled that Hamnet is returning to the stage here in Britain.”
“I was very aware of the enormous responsibility of making these historical figures relatable and to make them live again.”
“William Shakespeare’s reach is beyond compare and everyone without exception has some knowledge of his life, his works, his stories and his language.”
“To try and humanise a man of such reach is a humbling thing.”
“But in the end, this is a story about family – an 11-year-old boy and the people around him.”
“It has been an absolute privilege to imagine Shakespeare himself, his wife, mother, father, sister, daughters and his only son.”
“I am very excited to bring this tale of love, loss and rebirth to so many cities in the UK.”
From page to stage to screen
Ms Chakrabarti, known for her work on Life of Pi and Red Velvet, brings her signature sensitivity and dramatic insight to the story, reimagining the lives of Shakespeare’s family in a way that feels both intimate and universal.
The play is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel, which has also been adapted into a film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.
As the production prepares to tour nationally, anticipation is building among theatre fans and literary audiences alike. Further details about the full tour schedule and ticket information are expected to be announced soon.
