Review: Hamlet ***

In recent years, the cognoscenti have seen David Tennant and Jude Law play the Bard's troubled Dane, but here in Yorkshire, not since Christopher Eccleston (eight years ago) have we seen a significant Hamlet.

That is why this production will be heartily embraced. Welcome as it is, it would have been embraced even more heartily had it been exceptional – which it is not. Because it is so long since we had any Hamlet, John Simm's, under the direction of Paul Miller, is better

than none. But we deserve better than this adequate production.

The set is stunning and lit beautifully but the action on stage is not quite so engaging.

By the end of the evening Simm looks as though he has run a marathon and clearly there is much effort here, but his cunning, conniving and often dangerous Hamlet does not explore the emotional, mental and moral depths for which fans of this play devoutly wish.

From the opening scene there is concern that all will not be well, when Hamlet's emotional turmoil is represented, without subtlety, with him laying on the floor and delivering his lines in a strange, reedy voice.

Fortunately, he improves and his Hamlet becomes both interesting and many layered. However, there is no real hint as to the depths of the madness in his soul. The fault of much of this should lay at the director's door.

Only Hugh Ross as both Polonius and the Gravedigger breaks out

of the shackles to bring us a truly engaging performance. His Polonius, officious but gentle and kind rather than conspiring, owns the stage when he is on it.

John Nettles's Claudius is disappointing, especially in his garbled delivery. Michelle Dockery as Ophelia and Barbara Flynn as Gertrude are under-used and lack power even in their most important scenes.

To October 23.