“Alas poor Yorick I knew him well”.  Most people will recognise this quote from Hamlet with the protagonist holding a scull of his late court jester in the graveyard scene.  The basis of George Rennie’s on hour comedy is the supposition that Yoric is not dead or if he were how he would react as a ghost.

The scene is set, to the rear are a series of vases with flowers and lit candles, as if a memorial. Papers are scattered on the floor.

The show begins with some audience participation, with an audience member reading from one of the pieces of paper. Summoned from the dead, Yorick sets out to revive theatrical joy back to the Danish court and rekindle his lost love of performance unintentionally causing chaos along the way.

Yorick is a jester without the audience he desires, hamstrung by his death as a ghost, he attempts to entertain the audience but soon discovers the world of Elsinore beyond the stage. He embarks on a journey to understand what really happened in Elsinore all those years ago, leading him to witness how the court has changed. He interacts with Hamlet, who appears unusually old and sombre (apparently, he’s normally a bundle of laughs). At this point, the monologue becomes darker as Yorick gradually understands that the King is not the only one who has died.

Rennie is obviously a talented and confident performer who commands the stage and easily engages with the audience. The dialogue is poetic, and the music and singing are stunning. 

The idea of telling minor characters’ stories from the background of Shakespeare’s plays is nothing new, but Rennie has brought a though provoking insight into Yoric’s personality.

 A well-crafted production.

4 stars

Reviewed by Nina Gardner.

Hamstrung is performing at the Glitch 11th – 16th June 2025

Tickets available at the link below

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vaultcreativearts/1623130?from_listings=true

Written and performed by     George Rennie

Director                                             Lisa Millar

Set design                                        Damien Stanton

Lighting design                              Benedict Esdale

Sound design                                 Lucas Button

Costume design                          Laura Rose Moran-Morris

Associate director                      Sarah Dellar