John Simm to Play Hamlet at Sheffield's Crucible in Autumn 2010

By Mark Shenton
11 Dec 2009

John Simm is to play the title role of Hamlet in a new production at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in September 2010, under the direction of Paul Miller. Simm, who completes a West End run in Speaking in Tongues at the Duke of York's Theatre Dec. 12, previously worked with the director on the West End run of Elling, which transferred from the Bush Theatre to the West End's Trafalgar Studios and for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor.

Simm, who is best known for his role as detective Sam Tyler in the BBC series "Life on Mars," made his professional stage debut in another Bush Theatre production when he appeared in Simon Bent's Goldhawk Road there; he has also appeared onstage at the Royal Court in I>Danny Rule. Other TV appearances include "The Lakes," "Clocking Off," "Sex Traffic," State of Play," "Dr Who," "The Devil's Whore" and "Skellig"; on film, he has appeared in "Seven Days," "Human Traffic", "24-Hour Party People," "Wonderland" and "Blue/Orange."

Miller, who is associate director of Sheffield Theatres, has previously directed Baby Girl/DNA/The Miracle, The Enchantment, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads and The Associate, all for the National Theatre, as well as re-staging Nicholas Hytner's original National Theatre production of The History Boys at the West End's Wyndham's Theatre and L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre. He has also directed at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the Arcola, Hampstead, ETT, Soho Theatre and the Royal Court. He will also be directing Sam Shepard's True West at Sheffield's Crucible, beginning performances May 13, 2010, prior to an official opening May 18, for a run through June 5.

Exact dates and further casting for Hamlet are still to be announced.