Hamlet and Benedict Cumberbatch fans have been given their first glimpse of the new production of the Shakespearean tragedy – but don’t expect to see the actor fronting the poster.
This time next year, Benedict Cumberbatch will make his debut as Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre and mass hysteria is expected, alongside a manic internet-crashing rush when tickets go on sale to the general public, due to the high profile star taking the lead role.  Over 3000 people have signed up for Barbican membership in the past three months such is the SHERLOCK’s star appeal.
The first two official images, which have been released do not feature the 38-year-old actor, which we are sure is a disappointment to his Cumberbatch Collective group!
Instead of the Brit taking the limelight to advertise the play, it is a group of children who are promoting the impending production (which doesn’t need a lot of promotion thanks to Cumberbatch’s participation),  dressed up as the characters from the play who are sat in a depressingly dark room in the pictures.
Cumberbatch, who will be playing the Danish prince, is portrayed by a young boy who looks fed up and miserable in one of the images, with a depressed Ophelia, dressed in a black fairy dress with white wings and is holding flowers.Â
The other poster shows Hamlet standing upon a chair looking forlorn, staring sadly into the distance with the other characters seated around the table behind him. Â
The production at the Barbican Theatre has been directed by Lyndsey Turner, who also worked on Posh and Chimerica.
For those who are unable to purchase tickets for this in-demand play, do not despair, as there will be 100 on sale for £10 at various points around the auditorium.
You have less than a year to wait before the curtain lifts, as Hamlet will run for 12 weeks from August 5th, 2015.
General on-sale tickets go on sale on Monday 11th August at 10am.
