STAFFORD SHAKESPEARE 2025: HAMLET

The Gatehouse Theatre is proud to announce that next year’s Stafford Shakespeare production will be HAMLET – one of The Bard’s best-loved and most quotable plays.

Running from June 24 to July 5, the ghostly tale of murder and revenge includes some of the most famous lines in stage history, including ‘To be or not to be, that is the question’ and ‘To thine own self be true’ and ‘The lady protests too much, methinks’.

The 33^rd annual production will star Stafford actor BENEDICT SHAW, who recently appeared in the hit BBC drama BOAT STORY and Kay Mellor’s THE SYNDICATE, in the title role.

Benedict, who grew up in the Rowley Park area and attended Blessed William Howard High School, is a former member of the Gatehouse Youth Theatre.

He said: ‘I’m delighted to be making my Stafford Shakespeare debut at the Gatehouse. This is where it all began for me many years ago and it feels like things have come full circle to be back in my home town at a theatre that means so much to me.’

Benedict, has a host of stage and TV credits to his name, including earlier roles in EMMERDALE and HOLLYOAKS. ‘This is where I got the acting bug,’ he recalls of the Gatehouse, where he also took part in a Summer School production as a youngster. ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing Hamlet in my home town and can’t wait to get started.’

The production will be directed by award-winning RICHARD CHESHIRE, who has a long history with the Gatehouse and Stafford itself, and has been directing on both sides of the Atlantic since the 1980s.

Richard, who is a Senior Lecturer in Acting and Directing at Staffordshire University, said: ‘It’s a dream to have the opportunity to direct a Stafford Shakespeare production. I couldn’t be happier and I’m looking forward to working with the wonderful Gatehouse team to create something very special in 2025.’

Theatre Manager Gary Stevens said: ‘We’ve had two wonderful productions since moving Stafford Shakespeare to the Gatehouse and I’m sure that will continue with Richard at the helm next year.

‘One of the things we’ve been looking to do is to provide a platform for local talent and it doesn’t get much better than Benedict, who started out at the Gatehouse Youth Theatre and has now got a successful stage and TV career.

‘There will be one or two familiar Stafford Shakespeare faces in the cast, but we’ll also be showcasing some of the rising stars from within Staffordshire too.

‘When the Shakespeare project began back in 1991, there was a very large community involvement and we want to get back to that spirit of engagement within the town and the wider county – we’re putting the ‘Stafford’ back into Stafford Shakespeare.’

Gillian Pardesi, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Stafford Borough Council, said: ‘It is great to see a local actor coming home to take on the lead role in what is one of the Bard’s most popular plays. It is wonderful that Stafford Shakespeare at our Gatehouse Theatre is able to showcase local talent in this way and attract successful actors who have performed on the national stage across theatre and television. I’m sure Benedict’s presence next summer will provide inspiration for any aspiring young local thespian.

‘I am looking forward to next year’s production of Hamlet and hope that many thousands more will also be supporting Stafford Shakespeare.’

Further cast announcements will be made in due course, for the production at the theatre, which is managed by Freedom Leisure on behalf of Stafford Borough Council.

Tickets for the shows start from £10 and run to £34, with discounts for concessions and schools, and are available from the Gatehouse Box Office 01785 619080 or online here