In an audacious fusion of music and theatre, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is set to adapt the band’s 2003 album Hail to the Thief for a radical new production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Titled Hamlet Hail to the Thief, the show will debut at Aviva Studios in Manchester from April 27 to May 18, 2025, before moving to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from June 4 to 28.
This contemporary adaptation is directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winning directors Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones, who are collaborating with Yorke to bring Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy into the 21st century. The production promises to be an innovative live experience, blending theatre, music, and movement to explore the play’s dark themes of paranoia and moral decay.
Yorke will personally rework Hail to the Thief’s politically charged tracks for a cast of over 20 actors and musicians, who will perform the music live during each performance. The album’s dystopian tone, originally inspired by the US political climate following the 2000 election, aligns closely with Hamlet’s exploration of deception, power, and madness. The official synopsis for the production describes a surveillance state in Elsinore, where Hamlet and Ophelia uncover corruption as ghosts and music reveal the lies underpinning the kingdom.
For Yorke, this is both a daunting and exciting challenge. “Adapting Hail to the Thief for the stage, particularly in the context of Hamlet, is fascinating,” he said. He aims to use the music to echo the underlying grief and paranoia of the play, allowing the sound to interact dynamically with the action on stage.
As one of Radiohead’s most politically overt albums, Hail to the Thief was initially met with mixed reviews, but has since gained appreciation for its fusion of alternative rock and electronic experimentation. This collaboration marks a bold new chapter for both Shakespeare and Yorke, blending timeless themes with modern anxieties in what promises to be an unforgettable theatrical experience.