David Tennant's Hamlet to DVD — Page 2

The BBC has today confirmed that David Tennant will reprise his Royal Shakespeare Company title performance in Hamlet for a new 180-minute screen version, which will be aired on BBC Two later this year.

Tennant and all the key members of the company - including Patrick Stewart, who played Claudius ? have signed up to appear in the Illuminations production, which will be helmed by the play?s director, RSC chief associate Gregory Doran, and filmed at an undisclosed location, starting in June. An exact UK transmission date has not yet been announced, but it will be followed in 2010 with broadcasts in the US and Japan and 2010 as well as a DVD release.

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said that the film was ?a wonderful opportunity to bring one of the great stage successes of last year to a wider audience.? Doran added: ?The Hamlet cast and the RSC are all really delighted that we now have the chance to share this show with audiences around the world.?

Tennant took a break from Doctor Who, for which he?s just completed filming his farewell series, in order to return to the stage in Hamlet last year. The production sold out within hours of tickets going on sale for first its Stratford-upon-Avon run and later its London transfer, causing a ticket frenzy and the West End?s first major counterfeiting incident. It opened at the West End?s Novello Theatre in December, but Tennant was forced to miss most of the run there, including the press performance, due to a back injury.

Though Tennant returned for the final week in London, he was ineligible for a Laurence Olivier Award due to too few performances. However, he did win a Critics? Circle Award for Best Shakespearean Performance and his return to the stage was named the Theatre Event of the Year in our own Whatsonstage.com Awards.

The cast of Hamlet also features Penny Downie as Gertrude, Mariah Gale as Ophelia, Oliver Ford-Davies as Polonius, John Woodvine as the Player King, Peter De Jersey as Horatio, Sam Alexander as Rosencrantz, Tom Davey as Guildenstern, and Edward Bennett (who understudied Tennant in the title role and famously stepped in at less than a day?s notice when the star was injured) as Laertes.

Confirmation of the Hamlet film comes after months of speculation and campaigning by fans. One online petition, set up by RSC patron Margret Best, collected nearly 8,000 signatures. The BBC is creating a dedicated website to support the new film, including behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the actors and creative team.

Updated On: 5/29/09 at 07:35 AM

I've a feeling the 'secret filming location' could be none other than The Novello itself!
Its empty until September and filming is in June!

(I swear I updated this topic this morning when I was doing my rounds, but now the comment is missing. Bizarre!)

Anyway, yes, June. Hurrah! We're so pleased the confirmation has come. A number of cast told us they'd be filming in June, but without confirmation from RSC, we couldnt publicly post it.

Not sure about "secret location" being the Novello. Michael Boyd recently said at an event that if they did film it (this was before confirmation) it would be done in combination between studio & location (as in, building interiors, outside shots etc). They've not suggested doing it on a stage. And until recently, it was expected that the Novello would be busy with Spring Awakening. Bit soon for them to have organised them filming there.

And Kec, am not the lady who started the petition, but I am in contact with her :)

"And Kec, am not the lady who started the petition, but I am in contact with her :) "

I know -- I'm wtraveler on the DT forum; mine was the first response to her announcement last night -- she was at the start of her day, and I was at the end of mine.

A few choice quotes I have picked up from Illuminations (who are working on it) regarding the production, which should give an idea of how it's going to work.

"We're going to film this on location with a single camera, so preserving all the particular qualities of the stage production but (hopefully) making it dynamic and accessible on the screen. You'll be able to tell whether we've got it at least part right later on in the year."

"Our aim isn't a "reliable record" of the stage production (I'm not convinced that that is either achievable or appropriate), but we are exploring -- I hope carefully, cautiously and sensitively -- how to create a screen version that preserves the tone and feel and essence of the stage production. This should preserve the look and ideas and nuanced, complex performances as well as the emotional qualities of the RSC original, but also bring to it a certain vividness and even excitement for the screen."

"Now it gets exciting. I was on the Hamlet set this morning. The shiny floor was being laid, there's a substantial lighting rig that we've brought in, and the space looks fantastic. In a nearby props room there are rapiers and chandeliers and a large mirror that's crack'd from side to side. In the costumes space there are rails and rails of frocks and uniforms and djs. Nearby we've already dug a grave five feet down into the earth. Can't wait to turn over on Tuesday."

Apologies. A force of habit (the forum I'm regularily on does not allow links to be posted without permission (as they are unable to vouch for the contents of outside websites).

http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/ (who are blogging during the production, incredibly interesting to follow the filming)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/29/david-tennant-hamlet?commentid=1c381a1c-b848-453f-a586-91a41949d6f8 (the comments section).

I'd also suggest, if you are on Twitter, following @illuminations and @TheRSC. Cast members Sam Alexander (Rosencrantz), Tom Davey (Guildenstern) & Keith Osborn (Marcellus) are tweeting updates from the set. You can also search for the hashtag #hamlet and the tweets are marked SA, TD and KO respectively.

Updated On: 6/6/09 at 04:24 PM