HAMLET has always been my favourite Shakespeare play and this English Touring Theatre production is one of the best I have ever seen.

Ed Stoppard, son of the playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, played a softer, more likeable Hamlet than I have seen before but he engaged superbly with the audience during the famous soliloquies.

Anita Dobson, who used to play Angie in EastEnders, shows she can be a fine classical actress as well and her character Gertrude was very believable.

Alice Patten as Ophelia acted the madness scene as well as I have ever seen it and she, together with all the other actors who met their demise, deserve praise for the perfect way they played dead.

Patrick Drury as the ghost, Michael Cronin as Polonius, David Robb as Claudius and Ben Warwick as Laertes all played their roles well.

You won't see a better Hamlet this year. AG