Maggie O'Farrell's bestseller 'Hamnet' to be adapted into play by Royal Shakespeare Company
Feb 27, 2023
Los Angeles (California) [US] February 27 : An on-stage adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel 'Hamnet' is set to be produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). In it, 'Charmed' famed actor Madeleine Mantock will be playing the lead.
Variety, an American media company, reported that 'Hamnet' is set in 1582 and follows the life of Agnes Hathaway, a natural healer who meets the Latin tutor, William Shakespeare. They create a life together, and soon Shakespeare moves to London to chase the world of theatre.
While Hathaway stays back raising his three children. 'Hamnet' at the age of eleven is taken from his beloved parents by the plague, and each of them must deal with their grief on their own. But the deepest anguish gives birth to something truly amazing.
In the stage adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel Mantock will be playing the role of Hathaway with Tom Varey enacting Shakespeare, also an RSC debut. The cast for the play also includes Peter Wight, Sarah Belcher, Will Brown, Haydn Burke, Ajani Cabey, Faye Campbell, Frankie Hastings, Karl Haynes, Alex Jarrett, Hannah McPake, Rose Riley, Elizabeth Rider, Harmony Rose-Bremner and Obioma Ugoala, according to the Variety an American news organisation's report.
It will be co-produced by Neal Street Productions and Hera Pictures. The adaptation is directed by RSC acting artistic director Erica Whyman. This theatre adaptation will have its world premiere in the newly restored Swan theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in April, marking the re-opening of the venue for the first time in over three years following the pandemic
According to Variety, the play is written by Lolita Chakrabarti who said, "Writing this play was made even more challenging due to the huge impact Maggie O'Farrell's novel has had. Every reader seems to have a very personal relationship with this story. Shakespeare is studied, examined and lauded across the world and at times, it has felt presumptuous of me to add my own flavour to this iconic man."
Chakrabarti continued, "It is a great privilege to look at the Shakespeares through my detailed research and personal lens. This woman behind the playwright is a fascinating character and after studying Maggie's book, it is clear to me now that her son was the inspiration for one of our greatest pieces of English literature".
As per Variety, 'Hamnet' has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide and was named both Waterstones Book of the Year and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2020. Meanwhile. O'Farrell was named the winner of the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction.
