Sherlock to Shakespeare

It was only a matter of time before national treasure, Benedict Cumberbatch took on Hamlet. There is, after all, no greater honour bestowed upon a British actor before he shuffles off this mortal coil – just ask Withnail’s Uncle Monty, who laments: “It’s the most devastating moment in a young man’s life, when he quite reasonably says to himself, ‘I shall never play The Dane!’. It is at that moment that all ambition ceases to exist.” Luckily for 38 year old Benedict, he did get that call, and will indeed be treading The Barbican’s boards this summer.

Of course, Cumberbatch was only ever waiting in the wings – and making us wait too. In August last year The Telegraph declared Lyndsey Turner’s production would be “the most in-demand show of all time”, without a hint of hyperbole. In response (and in the spirit of fairness), Sonia Friedman Productions, together with Sky Arts, will be holding a £10 ticket lottery. But to bid, or not to bid, that is the question… With 100 regular seats priced at just £10 each positioned throughout the auditorium – and at each performance, we think you’d be Act-IV-Ophelia-crazy not to. You have until Tuesday 16 June to enter the ballot here, in which you can apply for up to two tickets. On Friday 19 June the successful applicants will be notified by email with further information about how to purchase their winning tickets from Monday 22 June onwards. Outrageous fortune, eh?

Photographer Tim Gutt, Poster Art Direction Shona Heath.