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Chit chat - Skeleton keys

Published Tuesday 2 December 2008 at 10:55

While we’re on the subject of bizarre inanimate objects appearing on stage (and no, that’s not a reference to John Barrowman’s ‘penis game’), Tabard was amused to hear that the skull which features in the latest Royal Shakespeare Company staging of Hamlet is a real one.

To be more specific, it once belonged to pianist Andre Tchaikowsky, who bequeathed his skull to the RSC when he died in 1982 .

Until, now, though it has only ever been used in rehearsals, with performers feeling a little squeamish about appearing with a real skull in front of an audience.

No such problems for Tennant, though. One supposes that, with his past experience as a Time Lord, he’s probably come across stranger things.

“It was sort of a little shock tactic. Though, of course, to some extent that wears off and it’s just Andre, in his box,” Greg Doran, the show’s director, told the Daily Telegraph.

He added that he did not want the story to get out before Hamlet opened. He said: “I thought it would topple the play and it would be all about David acting with a real skull.”

Which, frankly, seems to be missing the point. It would have all been about Doctor Who acting with a real skull.

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