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Benedict Cumberbatch to play Hamlet at Barbican Benedict Cumberbatch to play Hamlet at Barbican
(about 7 hours later)
Benedict Cumberbatch is to swap Sherlock for Shakespeare when he plays Hamlet for 12 weeks in the summer of 2015, it will be confirmed .Benedict Cumberbatch is to swap Sherlock for Shakespeare when he plays Hamlet for 12 weeks in the summer of 2015, it will be confirmed .
The west end impresario Sonia Friedman, who will produce the Shakespeare play at the Barbican theatre in London, described Cumberbatch, the star of the BBC TV series Sherlock, as "one of the most gifted actors of his generation".The west end impresario Sonia Friedman, who will produce the Shakespeare play at the Barbican theatre in London, described Cumberbatch, the star of the BBC TV series Sherlock, as "one of the most gifted actors of his generation".
The director will be Lyndsey Turner, following her success with the new plays Chimerica and Posh.The director will be Lyndsey Turner, following her success with the new plays Chimerica and Posh.
"I'm thrilled to be producing Hamlet with Lyndsey and Benedict, and we are all delighted that the magnificent Barbican has agreed to present the show," Friedman said."I'm thrilled to be producing Hamlet with Lyndsey and Benedict, and we are all delighted that the magnificent Barbican has agreed to present the show," Friedman said.
The production marks Cumberbatch's first full return to the stage since starring in Frankenstein, directed by Danny Boyle, at the National Theatre in 2011 when he alternated the role of Frankenstein and his creature with Jonny Lee Miller. Since then he has become a Hollywood star, portraying the villain Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate and a slave owner in 12 Years a Slave. This year he will appear as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game and is set to shoot The Lost City of Z , in which he will play the Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett, who searched in vain for the fabled city of El Dorado.The production marks Cumberbatch's first full return to the stage since starring in Frankenstein, directed by Danny Boyle, at the National Theatre in 2011 when he alternated the role of Frankenstein and his creature with Jonny Lee Miller. Since then he has become a Hollywood star, portraying the villain Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate and a slave owner in 12 Years a Slave. This year he will appear as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game and is set to shoot The Lost City of Z , in which he will play the Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett, who searched in vain for the fabled city of El Dorado.
Cumberbatch is following in the recent footsteps of David Tennant, Rory Kinnear, Michael Sheen, John Simm and Jude Law.Cumberbatch is following in the recent footsteps of David Tennant, Rory Kinnear, Michael Sheen, John Simm and Jude Law.
Maxine Peake is to appear as Hamlet in a re-imagining of the part at Manchester's Royal Exchange in the autumn.Maxine Peake is to appear as Hamlet in a re-imagining of the part at Manchester's Royal Exchange in the autumn.
Cumberbatch's Hamlet role has been rumoured for some time, and the Barbican will confirm it as it announces details of its artistic programme for 2014-15.Cumberbatch's Hamlet role has been rumoured for some time, and the Barbican will confirm it as it announces details of its artistic programme for 2014-15.
Its collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company continues with London performances of Henry IV Parts I and II, with Antony Sher as Falstaff, Jasper Britton as Henry IV and Alex Hassell as Prince Hal. The Barbican also announced an Ibsen season, an art show called Constructing Worlds that will explore photography and architecture, and residencies by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra.Its collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company continues with London performances of Henry IV Parts I and II, with Antony Sher as Falstaff, Jasper Britton as Henry IV and Alex Hassell as Prince Hal. The Barbican also announced an Ibsen season, an art show called Constructing Worlds that will explore photography and architecture, and residencies by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra.
The centre said it would continue to stage events in east London, with a summer garden party in Walthamstow on 26 and 27 July, a screening of Hitchcock's 1926 film Blackmail at Walthamstow assembly hall and a project in Barking that explores how the first world war still affects communities today.The centre said it would continue to stage events in east London, with a summer garden party in Walthamstow on 26 and 27 July, a screening of Hitchcock's 1926 film Blackmail at Walthamstow assembly hall and a project in Barking that explores how the first world war still affects communities today.
• Before Sherlock and Star Trek: Benedict Cumberbatch on stage – in pictures