“Hamlet struggles with justice and moral balance, while David H. Littleton’s Claudius fights to preserve his power, drawing the audience into their confrontation. Littleton, whose credits range from The Public Theater to Disney, is especially compelling in the “O, my offence is rank” soliloquy.”
PLAYOFF-BROADWAYCLOSED
Becoming Hamlet
Five Angels Theater · 1h 40m
Opened Sep 11, 2026 · Closed Oct 3, 2026 · Ran for 1 month
1 Rave
1 Positive
3 Mixed
3 Negative
Critics' Take
An ambitious participatory experiment invites audiences to inhabit Hamlet, earning praise for its visceral storytelling but dividing critics over whether the interactive concept truly unlocks Shakespeare or collapses under its own weight.
This show has closed. Tickets are no longer available.
Critic Scorecard
8 reviews1 Rave
1 Positive
3 Mixed
3 Negative
Sort:
“This ripping apart of Shakespeare's arguably most famous creation was a grounding adventure for me.”
“Still, it’s difficult to see the audience participation in Becoming Hamlet as much more than a gimmick.”
“The pacing is inconsistent, since it is dependent on the skills of several dozen nonprofessional actors.”
“I simply found its central device more gimmick than revelation.”
Audience Scorecard
23 audience reviews
B-
Shrugging
Frequently Asked Questions
What do critics say about Becoming Hamlet?
An ambitious participatory experiment invites audiences to inhabit Hamlet, earning praise for its visceral storytelling but dividing critics over whether the interactive concept truly unlocks Shakespeare or collapses under its own weight. (CriticScore 56/100 from 8 reviews.)
Is Becoming Hamlet worth seeing?
Only if you're a devoted fan. Critics are mixed on Becoming Hamlet (56/100 from 8 reviews). Most suggest you could skip it.
What is the CriticScore for Becoming Hamlet?
Becoming Hamlet has a CriticScore of 56/100 based on 8 professional reviews. This show is rated "Mixed".
Is Becoming Hamlet still running Off-Broadway?
No, Becoming Hamlet has closed. It played at Five Angels Theater and closed on October 3, 2026.
How long is Becoming Hamlet?
Becoming Hamlet has a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes, including 1 intermission.
Quick Facts
- CriticScore
- 56/100 (8 reviews)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- Sep 11, 2026
- Closed
- Oct 3, 2026
- Run Length
- 1 month
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Intermissions
- 1
- Theater
- Five Angels Theater
- Synopsis
- A participatory adaptation of Hamlet told entirely from the prince's perspective with optional audience involvement. This adaptation of Hamlet places the audience inside the prince's inner world, presenting the play entirely from Hamlet's point of view. Rather than observing the action from a distance, audience members are invited to see and experience events as Hamlet does, with the production structured to draw them into the emotional and psychological landscape of the character. Participation is optional throughout, with opportunities to speak lines or engage with the drama as it unfolds. Audience members who wish to be more actively involved can choose dedicated on-stage seating, where facilitators guide them into the action. Those who prefer to watch may do so without any obligatio...
- Data Last Updated
- October 5, 2026
