Hiran Abeysekera’s Modern Hamlet at Brooklyn Academy of Music

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is set to host a modern-dress production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, featuring Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera in the title role. Directed by Robert Hastie, the production is a contemporary reimagining of the tragedy that originally premiered in 2025 at the National Theatre in London.

The production marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership between BAM and the National Theatre. According to BAM, the play is described as a witty, fearlessly contemporary take on the classic work. The run is scheduled for April 2026, with different sources citing start dates of April 19 and April 26, and concluding by May 23, 2026.

A Modern Approach to the Danish Prince

Director Robert Hastie, who serves as the deputy artistic director at the National Theatre, has designed a production that departs from traditional interpretations. Visually, the production utilizes the work of costume and stage designer Ben Stones to achieve a sleek, modern look. In this version, Hamlet wears a slutty little earring and drinks Dom Pérignon while interacting with courtiers regarding the ghost of the late king.

Hastie has noted that Abeysekera’s portrayal differs from previous Hamlets not only in ethnicity but in the nature of the performance. He describes Abeysekera’s connection with the audience as playful—sometimes confrontational, sometimes threatening, often mischievous—but always direct and sympathetic.

Abeysekera, a London-based actor born in Sri Lanka, is recognized for bringing a blend of volatility and cheeky humor to the role. His performance in London reportedly held an audience of nearly 1,000 people through its emotional resonance.

Career Context and Production Background

Hiran Abeysekera is well-known for his breakout role as Pi Patel in the 2022 West End production of Life of Pi. That performance subsequently transferred to Broadway and earned him a Theatre World Award and the 2022 Olivier Award. New York audiences may also recognize him from The Prisoner, directed by Peter Brook.

Robert Hastie also brings recent Broadway success to this project, having directed the Olivier Award–winning musical Operation Mincemeat. In addition to his work on Hamlet, Hastie has been involved in rehearsing a revival of Maxim Gorky’s Summerfolk at the National Theatre.

The production arrives at a venue with a long history of staging the play. Since BAM opened in 1861, Hamlet has been mounted more than 20 times, with previous productions helmed by figures such as Peter Brook, Ingmar Bergman, and Thomas Ostermeier.

The National Theatre’s US Presence

The arrival of this production coincides with the 60th anniversary of the National Theatre’s activity in the United States, counting from its first Broadway transfer. The National Theatre, based on London’s South Bank, stages 18 productions annually and reaches approximately 28 million people worldwide through various digital and cinematic initiatives.

Supporting these efforts is National Theatre in America, a New York-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes the work of the UK-based institution within the United States.

The production of Hamlet at BAM is part of the Winter/Spring 2026 season and is intended to be a sharp, darkly funny reimagining of the tragedy for contemporary audiences.