Hamlet Reviews

Bucking the Stafford Castle trend for dubious celebrity casting, director Bill Buckhurst roped in his old pal from his days at the RSC, and in so doing, gave the Stafford Festival Shakespeare the best performance it has seen in years. His defining moment was his attempt to sink onto the shoulder of his father’s ghost, only for the ghost to drift away, sending Hamlet falling to the ground like a lead weight.

Philip Holyman West Midlands Life August 2008

But despite Hamlet's premature curtain call, an hour before schedule, it looked set to be yet another triumph for this talented team. Praise should go to Joseph Millson who was proving to be an outstanding Hamlet.

Joseph Millson’s Hamlet is outstanding. His descent into apparent madness is played with rare energy and surprisingly effective humour, alternating instantly between jester and tragic victim of his uncle’s evil wiles. He delivers a truly multi-layered character, accessible yet unfathomable.
Millson’s mesmeric performance is strongly supported by Louise Jameson as a regal, vulnerable Gertrude and Kellie Shirley as a beautifully fragile Ophelia.

Neil Bonner The Stage June 2008

In the title role is another former resident of Albert Square, Joseph Millson. The actor dominates, with a compelling, sensitive performance that breathes freshness into lines so familiar they are woven into the collective consciousness. An early soliloquy delivered from the top of frame serving as the battlement of Elsinore Castle, places him squarely on the skyline and will surely prove a memorable image even when the actor is not lashed by cutting wind and driving rain.

The Stafford Sentinel June 2008