Hamlet with Ian McKellen

Since DarkChat began in 2007 I have always tried to start the festival with a big show. The first was Alan Cumming in The Bacchae, this year it was Sir Ian McKellen in Hamlet.

I suspect I am not alone in having a double take when I saw it advertised on the Fringe website having discovered he will be there in person, this became a must-see and the first show we booked (by quite a while!) I was intrigued by the concept of Hamlet running for only 75 minutes and featuring Peter Schaufuss and The Edinburgh Festival Ballet.

We enter a superb new auditorium with a carpeted floor to stifle the noise of performers comings and goings and with plenty of raised seating it was easy to get a seat. Not surprisingly Sir Ian's role was to perform the key Hamlet speeches whilst the dancers interpreted the play, Johan Christensen portrayed the younger Hamlet showing the physical anguish of the Danish Prince whilst the knight showed the mental anguish. This combined with the music of Ethan Lewis Maltby provided a mesmerising evening's entertainment.

It helps if you know the play but even without this knowledge you can sit back and listen to one of the greatest voices of our time and glory at a fantastic ballet company all backed up by strong music. Wondrous.