A Fool’s Errand with Soul
In Hamstrung, George Rennie brings Yorick—yes, that Yorick—back to life, not just as a skull in Hamlet’s hands, but as a full, messy, deeply human soul, writes Luigia Minichiello.
This solo show is part ghost story, part confession, and all heart. It’s about the greatest clown in Denmark, but also about the longing to be seen as something more than just the punchline.
We find ourselves in a transitional space—purgatory? a rehearsal room? Both?—where Yorick gets his long-overdue spotlight. What starts with playful chaos and mischievous asides slowly deepens into something more vulnerable: a reflection on ambition, identity, and that aching and desire to make people laugh.
I’ll be honest—I was a little lost at the start. A Hamlet refresher wouldn’t have hurt. “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him not as well,” I muttered. But once I rolled with the chaos, it all began to click. That’s part of the joy. The Glitch is the ideal venue: close enough to feel like Yorick is speaking just to you, and rough-edged enough to feel like the spirit of theatre is haunting the space.
There’s a story involving a goat (you’ve been warned), songs that bubble up from sadness, and jokes that slowly unravel into confessions. There’s even a jig—of course there is.
Audience interaction is an absolute highlight. The night I went, a volunteer gamely revealed they “mainly work in spreadsheets” before diving into the action. Later, when others were drafted in as Queen and Butler, Yorick’s offhand line—“If only this country were ruled by clowns”—earned the biggest laugh of the night.
Hamstrung is Shakespearean fanfic in the very best way. It gives voice to a character left in the wings and asks the kind of questions performers know too well: What if they really saw me?
In the final moments, Rennie steps out of character and admits he’d given up on acting when he started writing this show. That quiet revelation hits hard—more so because it’s been right there beneath the surface the whole time.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind the comic mask—or beneath the skull—Hamstrung delivers a beautifully bonkers, fiercely honest answer. Yorick’s not waiting in the wings anymore. He’s centre stage.
The Glitch, Lower Marsh, SE1 7AE 11th-16th June, 19:00 (and 14:00 on 14th June) 60 minutes.£10-£20. Age Guidance 14+
Booking: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vaultcreativearts/1623130
