Nathan Brocklebank and Lydia Keating in rehearsals for Common Ground Theatre‘s Hamlet. Picture: Magdalini Brouma
COMMON Ground Theatre’s innovative new touring production of Hamlet plays York International Shakespeare Festival at York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium on Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 4pm.
Championing accessibility, inclusion and bold storytelling, Sadie Jemmett’s company is bringing Shakespeare’s most iconic tragedy to theatres, festivals and communities across the UK and internationally this spring and summer.
Known for its visually striking, music-infused, highly accessible interpretations of Shakespeare, Common Ground Theatre continues its mission to break down barriers to the arts, taking Hamlet to venues ranging from outdoor amphitheatres and rural community spaces to international festivals, including the Craiova International Shakespeare Festival in Romania, Europe’s biggest celebration of the Bard.
The company also will visit locations across Yorkshire, Sheffield, the Midlands, Suffolk, Dorset and Cornwall. At the heart of the tour is a partnership with The Mount Camphill Community in Wadhurst, East Sussex, where performances will take place in the Stage in the Woods amphitheatre.
This collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to inclusive, community-driven performance, offering audiences an immersive theatrical experience in an inspiring natural setting.
Nathan Brocklebank’s Hamlet. Picture: Magdalini Brouma
Accessibility and inclusion are central to Common Ground Theatre’s ethos. Jemmett’s production features Nathan Brocklebank, who has dyslexia, in the title role of Hamlet, highlighting the company’s dedication to creating opportunities for neurodiverse performers.
Director Jemmett and Brocklebank worked closely to develop innovative and personalised techniques for learning the role: an undertaking involving approximately 1,500 lines of text. This collaborative process not only supported the actor’s performance but also re-imagined traditional rehearsal methods, demonstrating how classic works can be approached in new and inclusive ways.
“I was very nervous about learning the text at first, as sight reading is a real challenge for me, and Shakespeare is especially difficult,” says Nathan. “But by using audio methods, deep diving into the meaning of the text, working with my body and finding the rhythm in the verse, the lines began to stick in a completely new way.”
Alongside the tour, Common Ground Theatre continues its extensive educational outreach programme. The company works with schools, community groups and aspiring performers to deliver workshops, masterclasses and vocational training opportunities, with a particular focus on supporting neurodiverse individuals.
Nathan Brocklebank’s Hamlet in a scene from Common Ground Theatre’s Hamlet. Picture: Magdalini Brouma
These initiatives are designed to demystify Shakespeare, making his work engaging, relevant and accessible for all. “We believe Shakespeare belongs to everyone,” says Sadie. “This tour is about meeting audiences where they are – geographically, culturally, and personally – and creating theatre that is open, inclusive and alive.”
Fuelled by its bold artistic vision, commitment to accessibility and passion for storytelling, Common Ground Theatre’s Hamlet promises to be a powerful and thought-provoking production that will resonate with audiences from all walks of life.
“Infused with the raw power of live music and song, our production of Hamlet shifts the focus from revenge to the emotional impact of grief, mental health and family breakdown,” says Sadie. “At the heart of the play are three young people, Hamlet, Ophelia and Laertes, each struggling to cope with profound personal loss and intense expectations.
“After his father’s death and his mother’s sudden remarriage, Hamlet is driven into a deep inner conflict by revelations of betrayal. Ophelia, wounded by distance and her father’s death, becomes overwhelmed by spiralling sorrow. Laertes, returning to a shattered home, finds his family broken and his anger rising.
“Through these characters, audiences are invited to reflect on their own experiences of love, loss and grief. This is Hamlet told with empathy, clarity and relevance – a powerful exploration of the emotional truths at the heart of Shakespeare’s work.”
For tickets, go to: yorkshakes.co.uk.
Common Ground Theatre director Sadie Jemmett. Picture: Molly Hughes
Common Ground Theatre: back story
FOUNDED by director Sadie Jemmett and Lydia Keating out of Footsbarn Travelling Theatre Company, where Jemmett served as artistic director for three years before departing in 2025.
The company marks a new chapter in bold, visually driven and accessible touring theatre. Keating, a Lecoq-trained performer and collaborator, brings a strong physical theatre and devising background to the partnership.