Contact Page
Comment memorable quotes

Hamlet (1931/2)
Hamlet Programme Image Claudius has poisoned his brother, the King of Denmark, and seized the throne. Soon aftwerwards he marries his brother's widow, Queen Gertrude. Hamlet, son of the murdered King, sick at heart at his mother's hasty marriage and troubled by his love for Ophelia, returns to Denmark. The ghost of his father reveals to him the manner of his murder. Hamlet finds the King praying but refuses to kill him. Later he mistakenly kills Polonius spying behind an arras. Claudius sends Hamlet to his death in England. Ophelia's mind gives way under the stress of her thwarted love and her father's death. Laertes plots with Claudius to avenge his father and sister. Both Hamlet and Laertes are fatally wounded by a poisoned foil. Gertrude drinks from a poisoned chalice and Hamlet finally slays Claudius. However, the greatness of the play lies in the philosophy and language rather than the story itself. Full synopsis or Gallery.

Claudius: O! my offence is rank, it smells to heaven.

Claudius: My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

Claudius: When sorrows come, they come not single spies, But in battalions.
cast list production credits

Claudius

 Alastair Sim

Director

 Harcourt Williams
Hamlet Robert Harris

Playwright

 Shakespeare
Ophelia Phyllis Thomas Theatre The Old Vic
Laertes Richard Riddle Presented by Lilian Bayliss
Gertrude Martita Hunt Produced by Harcourt Williams
Polonius Douglas Jeffries    
Ghost Ralph Richardson    
Horatio Ralph Michael

Hamlet Cast
Rosencrantz Robin Craven
Guildenstern Grenville Eves
   
   
   
   
   
   
Interesting facts

Click on thumbnail to view larger image

Hamlet Programme Page 1 Thumbnail Hamlet Programme Page 2 Thumbnail

In 1931/32 Alastair was asked to go the The Old Vic for the season where Harcourt Williams was directing and Ralph Richardson and Phyllis Thomas played the leads.