The Stage

Lan confirms Young Vic in talks with Jude Law for Hamlet stage return

Published Wednesday 20 September 2006 at 11:50 by Alistair Smith

Young Vic artistic director David Lan has confirmed he has held talks with Jude Law this month to bring the actor back to the revamped venue and star in a production of Hamlet.

However, Lan stressed that while he is keen for Law to return to the Southwark venue, it was important that the time was right before they committed to a project.

“We began to think, ‘Let’s do Hamlet but let’s do Hamlet when it is the only thing we’re thinking about’,” Lan told The Stage. “It could be too much fun to do it when Jude is in demand, going round the world for his various films.

“We met about two weeks ago and were talking about it. And I am sure we will do it [Hamlet] or something else but I’m not sure when.”

Lan is keen to direct the show himself but has not ruled out the possibility of bringing in another director for the revival. “We’ll do whatever it takes to do the best production of whatever Jude does next,” he added.

Law, who last appeared on the West End stage in 2002 in Doctor Faustus at the Young Vic, directed by Lan, was instrumental in the venue’s recent fundraising to generate support for its £12.5 million revamp and served as patron of the campaign. The venue will reopen next month with community opera Tobias and the Angel.