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Hamlet Undressed

Behind the scenes of Hamlet at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre as Maxine Peake tackles the iconic character. From 2014.

Autumn 2014: The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester staged Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Maxine Peake took on the iconic role in a production which seeing her reunited with Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom, a year after their hugely successful version of Shelley's The Masque of Anarchy at the Manchester International Festival.

Join them behind-the-scenes, following Maxine's journey to playing the part of Hamlet.

From research meetings to vocal sessions, from sword fight training to character preparation, hear how Maxine prepares to take on Shakespeare's most iconic work.

The director, the designer and other creatives explain how they go about putting their unique stamp on the play, and create a Hamlet for Manchester, a Hamlet for 2014.

Producer: Elizabeth Foster

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2014.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 26 Mar 2025 00:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

Broadcasts

  • Sun 28 Sep 2014 13:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Mon 13 Oct 2014 11:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 22 Jan 2020 06:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 22 Jan 2020 13:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 22 Jan 2020 20:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 23 Jan 2020 01:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 25 Mar 2025 10:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 25 Mar 2025 16:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 26 Mar 2025 00:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra