‘A privilege – and pretty terrifying’: James Norton to play Hamlet in the West End

The Happy Valley actor is lined up as the lead in German director Thomas Ostermeier's first Shakespearean play in English

James Norton is to take on his first major Shakespearean stage role and play Hamlet in the West End next year.

The King & Conqueror star said it was a privilege" and pretty terrifying" to be cast as the tragic prince in the acclaimed German director Thomas Ostermeier's production next autumn. Norton was last on stage in 2023 in the harrowing A Little Life, based on Hanya Yanagihara's novel, which the actor described as the hardest thing he has ever done.