Hamlet, Prince of Derry, Adapted by Colin Murphy Directed by Conall Morrison

In summer of 2020, Drama On One teamed up with Stage Beyond - Derry's theatre company for people with learning difficulties. This was in order to record an alternative version of the most famous play in the English language.

The play was recorded at the height of covid, using an array of online apps, with members of Stage Beyond using their phones to perform their lines from home, for a new version of Hamlet, adapted for the company.

Tonight’s broadcast is dedicated to a wonderfully talented performer and beloved member of the ensemble, Catherine Campbell, who died last February.

We fondly remember her great skill, generosity and fantastic sense of fun. She brought all of this to her superb performance in the role of Horatia.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Click here to see Stage Beyond welcome the NYC Radio Festival Trophy

Something is rotten in the state of Derry, and Hamlet is determined to fix it… between all-night computer gaming sessions, angry rants on YouTube, and fights with his girlfriend on Snapchat.

This is Hamlet, Prince of Derry - a Hamlet for our distracted times.

Stage Beyond is Derry's theatre company for adults with learning disabilities. Here the Stage Beyond players bring their unique skillset and perspective to the most famous play in the English language, re-imagined for the company.

It was all due to premiere as a stage play in May of 2020 but because of the Covid-19 crisis, the production has moved to radio, with RTÉ Drama On One teaming up with Stage Beyond to use an array of online apps to record the cast during the lockdown.

So imagine our cast, each player working from home on the phone, waiting for their cue to deliver this unique Hamlet for our times.

Cast and Production Credits

Adapted for the company by Colin Murphy.

Directed by Conall Morrison.

Performed by Stage Beyond Theatre Company.

Original score by Si Schroeder.

Oisín Kelly (Hamlet)

Isobel Sharkey (Ophelia)

Bryan Sutherland (Claudius)

Bernie Shiels (Gertrude)

Catherine Campbell (Horatia)

Carol Glenn (Francisca)

Alan Doherty (Guildenstern)

Martin O’Hagan (Rosencrantz)

Gary Quigley (Laertes & Jack Sceptred Isle)

Tarrah Sharma (S S Sleeping Wolf)

Frank Nelis & Shane Marron (the Gravediggers)

Bernadette Foley (the Priest)

Patrick O’Kane (the Ghost)

Paul Clark (the Newsreader)

Gorretti Slavin (the Courtier)

Alison Mahoney (the Computer Voice)

The Slavin family recorded the Derry chants,

Other roles were played by members of the company.

Assistant Director: Alison Mahoney

The Artistic Director of Stage Beyond is Dee Conaghan

Sound Supervision and Sound Design: Ruth Kennington & Damian Chennells

Special thanks to Lyndsay Martin, Brian Cash and Sinéad Murphy

Hamlet Prince of Derry, adapted by Colin Murphy, was produced by Kevin Brew.

The Series Producer of Drama On One is Kevin Reynolds.

The RTÉ Group Head of Drama & Comedy is Shane Murphy.

First Broadcast Date : 26 July 2020

Listen to Luke Clancy's interview with Dee Conaghan of Stage Beyond on Culture File