Shakespeare 4 Kidz - S4K Hamlet - Watford Observer, Radlett Review 5 Oct 2007

ONE of Shakespeare's more gloom-laden plays, I was surprised to see so many children below the age of 11 at Shakespeare for Kidz' Hamlet at The Radlett Centre last night Wednesday).

"the most heartfelt Yoric speech I think I've ever heard"

Although I am sure they enjoyed the songs and dance routines, in fact the opening few minutes had me thinking this was Shakespeare for infants, I was disturbed to see a little girl in front of me squirming in her seat as knives and swords were brandished before her. Hamlet has a lot of death in it and any responsible parent knows that knives and small children just don't mix.

For its intended age group, however, condensing the original four and a half-hour script into a musical theatre show is a very good idea. It not only makes Shakespearian drama more palatable, restoring the level of humour Elizabethan audiences would have expected, it proves a valuable English lesson for teens, without a textbook in sight.
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Paul Parris is utterly compelling as Hamlet and gives the most heartfelt Yoric speech I think I've ever heard.

Melanie Dakin

Original review can be found here

What they say about us:
S4K HAMLET: "I just wanted to let you know how much my eleven year old son and I enjoyed the production this evening. It was the first time at the theatre for my son, who showed an interest after visiting The Globe. He suffers from an attention disorder, and rarely have I seen him so rapt. I have certainly never heard him talk so enthusiastically about any form of entertainment. We look forwards to attending tomorrow afternoon for Hamlet. Thank you for enabling me to share something that I particularly enjoy with my son, on a level which is appropriate and useful to him." Parent, Norwich.

What they say about us:

S4K HAMLET: "I just wanted to let you know how much my eleven year old son and I enjoyed the production this evening. It was the first time at the theatre for my son, who showed an interest after visiting The Globe. He suffers from an attention disorder, and rarely have I seen him so rapt. I have certainly never heard him talk so enthusiastically about any form of entertainment. We look forwards to attending tomorrow afternoon for Hamlet. Thank you for enabling me to share something that I particularly enjoy with my son, on a level which is appropriate and useful to him." Parent, Norwich.