Go back to the beginning with Ian McKellen as he reflects on how he first discovered his love for acting and his lifelong connection to Shakespeare.
Back to the Beginning with Ian McKellen
backstage-pass, theater

Get ready for a Hamlet like no other. Shakespeare's classic tragedy, starring Sir Ian McKellen, is reimagined as a psychological thriller set in modern times. McKellen, who first played the Danish prince fifty years ago, transcends the confines of the Theatre Royal Windsor stage under the direction of Sean Mathias. The venue has been inventively transformed into the iconic Elsinore Castle. Hamlet now has his own retirement room, complete with an exercise bike, while Claudius entertains Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in a lavish hospitality suite. After Hamlet kills Polonius in the foyer, he is confined to one of the toilets. This cinematic production also features Steven Berkoff, Jonathan Hyde, and Francesca Annis. The performances not only introduce a wider audience to the power of Shakespeare but also elevate it to unprecedented heights.