Hamnet Tickets

Hamnet is based on Maggie O’Farrell's best-selling novel, a brand new play adapted by the award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti. She was responsible for Life of Pi, Red Velvet, and Hymn, revealing the sheer quality of this fabulous play. Here, we pull back the curtain on the story of the greatest English playwright and Anne Hathaway, the woman who loved and supported him.

Hamnet Shakespeare was a twin to Judith, his sister, baptised on 2 February 1585. By the time Hamnet was four years old his dad was already famous. At age eleven the family buried Hamnet after he died of the plague. He was the only son of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and some Shakespearean scholars say there are strong connections between the boy's tragic death and the plays King John, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Twelfth Night.

At the time, in England, around a third of children died before aged ten. Child death was common but it was just as heartbreaking then as it is now. This play reveals how Hamnet's death impacted the greatest playwright England has ever seen.

What's the plot of Hamnet

The place is Warwickshire, the year is 1582. Agnes Hathaway is a natural healer, William Shakespeare is a Latin teacher. They begin a life together and have twins. When the plague kills eleven year old Hamnet, each of them has to handle their loss alone. But out of their terrible suffering came beauty.

The world premiere of Hamnet took place at the amazing restored Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 2023. Now it's transferring direct to London's Garrick Theatre this autumn for a limited 14 week season, a love letter to 'passion, birth, grief and the magic of nature'.

The Hamnet West End cast is led by Madeleine Mantock from Charmed and The Long Song. She plays Agnes Hathaway. Joan is played by Sarah Belcher and Burbage / Father John by Will Brown. Hamnet and Thomas Day are played by Ajani Cabey and Eliza by Frankie Hastings. Ned is portrayed by Karl Haynes, Judith by Alex Jarrett, Jude by Hannah McPake and Mary by Elizabeth Rider. Tilly and Caterina are played by Rose Riley and Susanna by Harmony Rose-Bremner. Bartholomew is by Obioma Ugoala, William by Tom Varey, and John by Peter Wight.

The creative team is equally impressive: the director is Erica Whyman, the designer is Tom Piper and the lighting comes from Prema Mehta. The music is by Oğuz Kaplangi and the sound by Xana. Movement comes from Ayse Tashkiran and dramaturg from Pippa Hill. The fights are by Kate Waters. The casting director is Amy Ball CDG, the music director is Alice Brown, the associate designer is Pip Terry and the assistant director is Linda Miller.

Who is Hamnet for?

There isn't an official age limit yet, but keep your eyes open.

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