As part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s partnership with Newcastle Theatre Royal, our Shakespeare Nation participants present I, Gertrude – a powerful new response to Hamlet, created by a female-led community company from across the North East.

While the RSC’s large-scale production of Hamlet plays on our main stage, this original work offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, asking what happens when the story is told through the eyes of the women so often overlooked.

Written over 400 years ago, Hamlet has stood the test of time – but its treatment of Gertrude and Ophelia reflects a world where women were belittled and pushed aside in favour of their male counterparts. In I, Gertrude, these characters are brought to the centre of the story, reclaiming their voices and reshaping the narrative.

Created by a company of local women – including food bank volunteers, former NHS workers and teachers – this production explores how Shakespeare’s characters still resonate today, blending classic text with contemporary responses and lived experience.

Part of a wider partnership between the RSC and Newcastle Theatre Royal, I, Gertrude celebrates creativity, community and new ways of engaging with Shakespeare’s plays.

Book early, secure your seat today