Every once in a while something magical happens. You attend the theatre making presumptions about what you are about to watch and literally get blown away by the story you are told.
Directing Hamlet is currently on at The Storey Institute in Lancaster. The auditorium space exceeded expectations and was the perfect setting for this performance. An incredibly well written piece by Michael Perlmutter and brought to life by director Karl Barnsley.
The story opens with Brian rehearsing his part in the upcoming production of Hamlet. He is trying to get through his monologue “Speak the speech I pray you” but battling with constant interruption from the shows director Lee. This is incredibly humorous to the audience as he shouts out instructions to the clearly overwhelmed actor, getting more and more frustrated with every comment.
The simple set, lighting and minimal cast completely draws the audience in and are very quickly immersed into the story that is unfolding. The play continues along to the same rhythm, with Brian rehearsing his speeches and Lee providing his feedback and wisdom. However we soon learn there is much more to these two people than meets the eye.
Over the course of the show the audience are taken on an incredible journey with these two characters that have been brought together by their love of the theatre. Witnessing them changing and opening up to each other, we learn that they are both using it as a form of escape from their real world problem. As their heartbreaking tales unfold we see behind the cocky actor and washed up director that we met in the first scene. 
A difficult part of this production will have been to find the correct actor to play Brian. The part requires so much talent and intelligence due to the multiple layers required - playing a character that is playing a character learning how to correctly act Hamlet. It is safe to say that Macaulay Cooper was the perfect casing choice. His accent was flawless from start to finish and his character never faltered. He successfully pulled off this difficult task that many more experienced actors would struggle with.
Acting alongside him as the director is Anthony Bentley, who gave another wonderful performance. From his opening moment you were completely mesmerised and fully believed his character. His many moments of silence were purely captivating and wonderfully contrasted by his ultimately perfect comic timing.
This company should be incredibly proud of what they have created. Any audience member, whether a theatre veteran or not, will find something to relate to in this moving and beautiful story. I for one will be keeping a close eye on everybody involved and hope to catch them in further productions in the near future.
Reviewed on: 1st April 2016
Reviewed by: Ellie Close
