Who knows what goes on in someone else’s head, but it’s fascinating watching what goes on when you are given the chance. With Tom Stoppard’s play “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” the public are given the chance to see how the author thinks. In this instance it’s how he sees two characters, presumably coming to terms with being dead, who are given the opportunity to meet the characters from Shakespear’s play “Hamlet” performed by a band of eccentric actors. Got that? Well you will see the play differently from everyone else in the audience. Do not worry if you think you cannot understand it, for neither does anyone else. Those who say they know what it is all about are saying so because they do not want to be thought unintelligent. So where does that leave us? With an evening of theatre where you cannot take your eyes from the stage for fear of missing something of vital importance. Do not worry if you see people appearing to drift off into a deep sleep, they soon come back to life.

The actors work hard and appear to be enjoying themselves on a grey set comprising of twelve doors. The two main characters played by Tom Smith and Nick Bagnall do a grand job and they spill out their lines with brilliant conviction. This is the secret of the play for they only have to say the words, not know what it means. The author used as many long obscure words as he could in order to play games with the audience. Richard Bremmer gives a convincing performance as the Player King and is backed up by his fellow actors who add to the malaise.

Now did the director Gemma Bodinetz understand what the play was about, for she left the audience not knowing when scenes had finished, so we can only assume that she did not, but what a fascinating evening of theatre she left the audience with. Next time you meet someone who has seen the play ask them, “Did you understand it”, if they say yes, well! It's all in your head, but do not say you did not understand it. © BA

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” is in Leeds from the 14th September to the 19th October, 2002.