Hamlet

As everyone knows by now, the Time Lord turned out to be vulnerable after all and will certainly not be juggling with Yorick's skull until after Christmas and maybe not even then. It's tough for an actor to have to fit into a production created for someone else, especially in a role that always digs deep into the actor's personality. Edward Bennett was presciently tipped for the top last year by Time Out's Tamara Gausi. If he didn't, contrary to all the hype, 'come back a star', he does have sufficient presence, wit and intelligence to stand up to Patrick Stewart's Claudius. While a barefoot Hamlet haunts the modern court in a scruffy t-shirt, Claudius's impeccable suits reflect his guarded nature. He barely flinches during the play despite the dumb show drag queen flashing his tits in the King's face. Sometimes Doran's production feels too studied, as if all the words have been examined so often they have been drained of life. As splendidly as Robert Jones's burnished set holds the mirror up to nature, it adds to the feeling that one is trapped in a stifling labyrinth unable to escape.