The Croydon Advertiser - The Guide

Four Stars

I predict 'a hit, a very palpable hit'

Shakespeare 4 Kidz’ newest makeover of Shakespeare’s work is Hamlet and this workshop version is directed by Julian Chenery and Claire Gimblett certainly pared it to the bones making it wholly comprehensible.

The full-length show will tour in September but this preview by the Mitre juniors was presented in high-class style with James Backway at the helm as Hamlet, showing the realistic potential to take the adult version in his stride someday.

Simply staged, using few props and costumes but excellent lighting, the tale of murder and revenge simplifies some of Shakespeare’s language while leaving the best of the original, including the well-known quotations. Songs add interest and here, the gravediggers, Ben Harper and Adam Roddie, created high comedy. Georgina Chenery – a melodious Ophelia distributed ‘rosemary for rememberance’ and Joe Pepper aged well as her father Polonius whose advice to son Laertes (Liam Upson) bought more comedy vocals in To Thine Own Self Be True.

David Payne made Claudius sufficiently shifty in his new role as King and Sam Westgate was eager as the faithful Horatio. As the ghost of Old Hamlet, Sam Cook achieved an ethereal bearing and Rozencrantz and Guildenstern were earnestly portrayed by Simon Cardy and Heather Dawe. I predict ‘a hit, a very palpable hit’.