The Tragedy of Hamlet sees the Emmy Award-winning performer Eddie Izzard embody all 23 characters across four cities
Eddie Izzard returns to Australia in mid-2026 with her acclaimed solo performance of The Tragedy of Hamlet.
Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated performer Eddie Izzard has spent decades pushing theatrical boundaries, from marathon stand-up sets in multiple languages to tackling Charles Dickens solo. Her latest challenge might be the biggest yet: performing every single character in Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy by herself.
The Tragedy of Hamlet arrives in Australia following sold-out seasons in the US and UK, where the production earned two major drama award nominations. Adapted by Mark Izzard and directed by Selina Cadell, the show sees Eddie embody all 23 characters from the timeless revenge tale on a bare stage with nothing but Shakespeare’s words and pure storytelling.
Eddie Izzard: The Tragedy of Hamlet
- Sydney Opera House, Sydney: 9-21 June
- Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane: 24-27 June
- Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne: 30 June – 12 July
- Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth: 27-28 July
- Tickets on sale Monday 10 November, 10am here
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Prince Hamlet’s quest for revenge after his father’s murder becomes a showcase for Izzard’s versatility as she shifts between men, women, ghosts, scholars, tyrants, courtiers, lovers, fools and poets. It’s an approach that echoes the original performances of Hamlet, stripping away elaborate sets and letting the story speak for itself.
Izzard has described Hamlet as the pinnacle of complex and demanding characters, with the production designed to make Shakespeare accessible rather than intimidating. Working alongside her brother Mark and director Selina Cadell, she’s crafted a version that emphasises the human drama beneath the famous soliloquies.
This marks Eddie’s second solo theatrical production following her sold-out run of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, which played to strong reviews in New York and London. That earlier show proved her ability to hold audiences alone on stage for extended periods, a skill honed through decades of stand-up comedy performed in English, French, German and Spanish.
Director Selina Cadell brings extensive experience from institutions like the RSC and West End, with credits spanning classical theatre and opera. Her approach to staging emphasises clarity and emotional truth, making her an ideal collaborator for a pared-back Hamlet that relies entirely on performance rather than spectacle.
Mark Izzard’s adaptation builds on the siblings’ collaboration from Great Expectations, with his background simplifying Eddie’s multilingual comedy routines proving valuable for distilling Shakespeare’s language. Their shared sense of humour helps navigate the creative challenges of condensing a full cast into one performer.
Australian audiences will get three weeks in Melbourne at Arts Centre Melbourne, the longest run on the tour, with shorter seasons in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth spanning late June through July. It’s ambitious programming for a demanding solo show, but Izzard has already proven the production’s stamina through extended international runs.
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