Benedict Cumberbatch photographed during the rehearsals of Hamlet. Image courtesy: Barbican
There are certainly more things in Heaven and Earth than Shakespeare could have dreamt, one of them being camera-phones being used by rows of theatre-goers to film actor Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as Hamlet.
Benedict, who has amassed a devoted following worldwide as TV's Sherlock, appeared outside the Barbican theatre in London to plead with his fans in person to stop recording him.
"The play's the thing," he said, repurposing one of
Hamlet's lines, "Not your mobile phone. I can see cameras, I can see red lights in the auditorium; we started again tonight. I can see a red light in the third row on the right, it's mortifying."
"There's nothing less supportive for me to be on stage experiencing that, and I can't give you what I want to give you, which is a live performance you will remember," he added.
"It's been a hell of a week," said the 39-year-old actor as he walked out to whooping and cheering fans crowding the Barbican,
The Barbican's production of
Hamlet is in its first week. Tickets sold out within minutes of going on sale last year, making this the quickest-selling play in the history of British stage. Details of the production were kept secret with just a few photos released from rehearsals.
Photo courtesy: Barbican
Photo courtesy: BarbicanThese images were tweeted by the Barbican Centre two days after the show officially opened:
Benedict Cumberbatch is just the latest of several actors who have objected to cellphones in the audience. In 2009, actors Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig provided an audience member a short lesson in manners after a cellphone rang repeatedly during their performance on Broadway.