HAMLET NOIR
Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy takes on a thrilling Scandi-Noir twist in this award-winning adaptation that interweaves the classic drama with a gripping detective narrative.
Best Use of Sound, BBC Audio Drama Awards
Grand Award, Best Drama, New York Festivals
2 x Bronze, Best Drama/Creative Innovation, UK ARIAS
An Almost Tangible production for BBC Radio 3.
First broadcast on 29 Oct 2023.
HAMLET NOIR
Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy takes on a thrilling Scandi-Noir twist in this new adaptation that skilfully interweaves the original text with a gripping detective narrative. With an all-Scandinavian cast, and set in present-day Denmark, the story unfolds against a backdrop of brooding landscapes and intense power struggles. Prince Hamlet, torn between madness and grief, is on a relentless quest to avenge his father’s murder. Meanwhile, a tenacious detective, Eva Holm, investigates the suspicious deaths at the Danish Court. But as Eva slowly unearths the truth and Hamlet edges closer to ultimate catharsis, both find themselves entangled in a web of treachery and corruption.
Recorded on location in Denmark, with the opening scenes captured at Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, HAMLET NOIR features an all-Scandinavian, including Iben Hjejle (High Fidelity, Defiance, Langt fra Las Vegas) as Gertrude, and Simon Sears (Shadow and Bone, Shorts, Ride Upon the Storm) as Lars.
HAMLET NOIR is an immersive audio drama and has been recorded with 3D, binaural audio technology designed to mimic how our ears listen - we recommend headphones for the fullest listening experience.
An Almost Tangible production for BBC Radio 3, this program first aired on Drama on 3, Sunday 29 October, 2023.
Adapted by Charlotte Melén from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
“Pulling such a well-known, iconic text apart is daunting to say the least. Merging and matching it with a new narrative, additional characters, and new twists on an old plot was frequently terrifying but also, always, electrifying! What an enormous privilege to have Shakespeare’s words to play with and prove, once again, their timeless energy.”
Trailer
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“The right balance of sound and music can create the most wonderful pictures, and recording on location amongst the breathtaking landscapes of Denmark went a long way in achieving the brooding, melancholic style of Nordic-Noir”
Cast
SHAKESPEARE CAST
Hamlet - Hjalte Ilsøe Gustavussen
Gertrude - Iben Hjejle
Claudius - Morten Burian
Ophelia - Gina Marchwinski
Polonius - Henrik Birch
Laertes - Ari Alexander
Horatio - Tue Lunding
Marcellus - Cyron Melville
Rosencrantz - Jakob Femerling
Guildenstern - Anders Heinrichsen
Yorick - Thomas Magnussen
Fortinbras - Sven Henriksen
CRIME DRAMA CAST
Eva - Charlotte Melén
Lars - Simon Sears
Trine - Lisa Riesner
Mogens (Chief) - Thomas Gabrielson
Mille - My Thürmer
Morten - Morten Holst
Henriette/Lone - Laura Allen Müller
Mette/Marie - Emmeli Stjärnfeldt
Newsreader - Christopher Dane
Call Handler - Tue Lunding
CREATIVE TEAM
Producers - Charlotte Melén, Saskia Black
Director - Carl Prekopp
Sound Recordist - Weronika Andersen
Sound Design - David Chilton, Lucinda Mason Brown, Matt Bainbridge
Production Runner - Eyob Knudsen
Exec Producer - Lucinda Mason Brown
Adaptation by - Charlotte Melén
Dramaturg - Mette Kruse
With special thanks to Kronborg Castle, Gilleleje Strand Hotel, and Cafe Vaabengaard.
An Almost Tangible production for BBC Radio 3.
Production Copyright 2023, Almost Tangible Ltd.