Hamnet Tickets

Have you ever heard about the tragic tale of Shakespeare's son, Hamnet? Immerse yourself into 16th-century England through this story of family, grief, and resilience. Get Hamnet tickets on TodayTix.

Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell's bestselling, fictionalised 2020 novel, the Hamnet play follows William and Agnes Shakespeare after the loss of their son. Lolita Chakrabarti (Life of Pi) adapted O’Farrell’s book, which The Times called an “evocative and beautifully acted” production that offers an intimate exploration of love, sorrow, and the enduring legacy of one of history's greatest playwrights.

Hamnet premiered in April at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. Now, the compelling drama is in London's West End for a strictly limited 14-week run this autumn.

Most people are familiar with the famous plays of the Bard, but the playwright's personal life is more of a mystery. Hamnet explores Shakespeare's past and the tragedy some believe inspired one of his most renowned plays, Hamlet.

Royal Shakespeare Company deputy artistic director Erica Whyman directs Hamnet in the West End. The creative team includes set designer Tom Piper, lighting designer Prema Mehta, composer Oğuz Kaplangi, sound designer Simon Baker, choreographer Ayse Tashkiran, and fight choreographer Kate Waters.

What to Watch For

• Parts of Hamnet are based in fact: Shakespeare did have a son named Hamnet, who died at age 11 in 1596. The playwright wrote Hamlet four years later, but we'll never know whether the events are truly connected.
• Hamnet is getting the Hollywood treatment. Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao will direct and write a new screenplay for the adaption.
• William Shakespeare invented 1,700 words in the English language, including “critic” and “gossip.”
• Maggie O’Farrell’s novel won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and Women's Prize for Fiction in 2020. It was also named "Novel of the Year" at the Dalkey Literary Awards the following year.