Madeleine Mantock
Image: Rachell Smith

Madeleine Mantock on Shakespeare, Soho and lighting up the West End stage

18 Dec 2023 | |By Luxury London

Hamnet star Madeleine Mantock reveals why she thinks the production is striking a chord with audiences and discusses her favourite London haunts

Perhaps because of its themes of love and loss, Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning Hamnet became one of the most talked-about books of 2020. The novel, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies, explores the private life of William Shakespeare, his wife Anne (Madeleine Mantock), and how the loss of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, inspired the heartbroken bard to write Hamlet.

Adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti (who recently wrote the stage script for Life of Pi), the play was first performed at Stratford-upon-Avon before being transferred to London’s Garrick Theatre, where Madeleine Mantock, 33, has been receiving rave reviews.

Born in Nottingham and having studied musical theatre at Chiswick’s Arts Educational Schools, Madeleine Mantock appeared in 36 episodes of Casualty before, in 2018, landing one of the lead parts in the rebooted American fantasy drama Charmed. Mantock’s West End debut came in 2021 when she appeared alongside Jennifer Saunders in Richard Eyre’s Blithe Spirit.

Madeleine Mantock in Hamnet
Why do you think Hamnet is proving so popular with audiences?

I think it is a universal story. We delve into the imagined family life of our country’s greatest writer and explore everything from love and loss, to self-expression and legacy. It’s much funnier than I think people anticipate, which is a nice salve to some of the sadness.

How does performing for an audience differ from performing for screen?

I love screen acting, because the camera becomes one of your scene partners and it’s really rewarding to section off 10 per cent of your brain to consider those technical elements. The joy of theatre is that it’s the audience who is part of each scene, in real time. You become very attuned to what they find funny or shocking and it’s a great feeling when you’ve won them over and they are really listening.

How physically and emotionally draining is it to perform the same play six days a week?

It can be very taxing and I try to be disciplined about staying hydrated and getting enough rest, but still, some days I’m not sure how I’m going to get through it. Peter Wight [who plays Shakespeare’s father, John] always says that ‘Dr. Theatre’ will see to it, which I find oddly comforting.

Which is your favourite Shakespeare play?

Twelfth Night. It was one of the first plays I studied at school and I loved how clever the twists and turns were. We also wouldn’t have the seminal classic She’s the Man if not for Twelfth Night!

Madeleine Mantock in Hamnet
Which three actors would you most love to be given the opportunity to act alongside?

Julia Roberts, Eddie Murphy and Olivia Colman.

You’ve played a lot of roles that involve magic. If you could pick one superpower in real life, what would it be?

I’d love to have omnilingualism. I think it would be really cool to be able to travel anywhere in the world, no matter how remote, and be able to communicate.

Where’s home for you?

London is currently home for me. I’m very grateful to have spent most of my 20s travelling with work, but I’m very happy to be nesting for a while.

Madeleine Mantock in Hamnet
Which is your favourite London neighbourhood and why?

I still get giddy walking through Soho and around the theatre district. It doesn’t matter if it’s during the buzz of summer or the festivities of winter – it always feels like something really exciting is happening.

Which is your favourite London building?

The NoMad – it’s moody and decadent.

Favourite London restaurant?

Belvedere in Holland Park is outrageously magical.

If you could live one day in any previous decade, which decade would you choose?

I’d go back to the 17th century and meet my ancestors. Maybe pop in to see some Shakespeare on the way back!

Hamnet runs until 17 February 2024, visit thegarricktheatre.co.uk

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