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This Hamlet, the opening show of Dublin Theatre Festival 2025, is both deeply serious and a riot of fun

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Hamlet

O’Reilly Theatre, Dublin 1
★★★★☆

“Don’t think you’re going to see that Hamlet,” someone says early on in this exhilarating production from the Peruvian company Teatro La Plaza. Fair warning. Some of the greatest hits do appear. There is engagement with “To be or not to be.” Ophelia meets a damp demise. The stage ends up littered with bodies.

But Chela De Ferrari, directing and writing in close collaboration with her cast, is using the text as a lever to prize open the challenges of living with Down syndrome. The actors all have that condition. Each appears to be working their own experience in with those attending the medieval court of Elsinore.

Arriving at a time when, thanks to (rebuffed) suggestions that Shakespeare no longer be compulsory for higher-level Leaving Cert students, there is much discussion of that writer’s relevance, Teatro La Plaza confirms that Hamlet retains multitudes for anyone anatomising the human condition.

In particular, the show suggests the younger characters share the frustration of people with Down syndrome at not being trusted to be themselves. Ximena Rodríguez, as Ophelia, fastens upon the notion of her father, Polonius, that she is “special” (long a patronising term for the neurodivergent).

Dublin Theatre Festival 2025: Ximena Rodriguez and Octavio Bernaza in Teatro La Plaza’s production of Hamlet. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Dublin Theatre Festival 2025: Ximena Rodriguez and Octavio Bernaza in Teatro La Plaza’s production of Hamlet. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Why is she that? Because she has “47 chromosomes”? The discussion of Shakespeare’s best-known soliloquy drifts towards an assertion of the cast’s often denied potentialities.

All of which makes this Hamlet, played in Spanish with English surtitles, sound like a bit of a trial. It is nothing of the sort. Though deeply serious in its intentions, the piece is a riot of fun from self-aware introduction to closing communal celebrations.

We begin with faintly chilling footage of a baby being born and then having its head measured. The cast are here to explain that, although they may sometimes be slow in saying their lines, it is worth waiting for those words to arrive. So it proves.

The titular role is shared among the actors, beginning with Jaime Cruz as a playful incarnation suffering inquisition from another cast member about whether we’re talking to Hamlet, Jaime or, possibly, “Jaimelet”. De Ferrari constructs, from key speeches, a raw scaffolding on which she hangs rich, often profane set-pieces.

[ Hamlet starring actors with Down syndrome: ‘It profoundly reconfigures the meaning of to be or not to be?’ ]

There are tricky layers to the famous play within a play, including a suggestion that (stay with me) the real audience’s reaction to what they’re watching may, as is the case with Claudius, reveal some uncomfortable truths.

The “To be or not to be” sequence does wonders with anxiety of influence, beginning before projections of well-known former performers and, after a recorded celebrity interview that we shan’t spoil, forcing the current Hamlet to shadow a giant Laurence Olivier in his legendary 1948 film. We are then invited to vote on whether this is a fair way of approaching the speech.

At times the construction does feel a little like a paternoster of related sketches. Not everything works so well as a lyrical death of Ophelia. But the defiant close is enough to bring a few dozen members of the audience on stage for a massed dance with the charming, committed cast.

Runs at O’Reilly Theatre, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival, until Saturday, September 27th

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British court throws out terror-related charge against Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh

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A London court has thrown out a terror-related charge against a member of the Belfast rap trio Kneecap.

Rapper Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, had been charged with a single count for allegedly waving a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sitting at Woolwich Crown Court said today that the case should be thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against the rapper was brought.

“Proceedings against the defendant were instituted unlawfully and are null.”

Indeed, during last month’s second court appearance, defence counsel Brenda Campbell KC told the court that the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on 21 May.

Following his ruling, the judge concluded: “Mr Ó hAnnaidh, you are free to go,” which was met by cheers in the public gallery.

Taking to X to celebrate, the band’s manager Daniel Lambert wrote: “We have won!!!!!! Liam Óg is a free man. We said we would fight them and win. We did (twice). Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER. Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not. Free Palestine.”

Kneecap have consistently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah and said that they do not incite or condone violence, despite criticism for their politically-charged live shows.

The band has denied accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that those attacking the band “weaponize” the false accusation to “distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.”

Kneecap has frequently used their platform at various music festivals to speak out not against the Jewish people but against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Since Hamas’ attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, multiple UN human rights experts have stated that Israel’s military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice finding claims of genocide plausible. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification announced that people in the Gaza Strip are officially facing “a man-made” famine in the territory.

Israel has rejected the genocide accusations and maintain that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence. Claims Kneecap have vocally rebuked. And continue to do so.

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Lewis Capaldi at Dublin’s 3Arena: Set list, ticket information, how to get there and more

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26 September 2025

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Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi is undertaking his first UK and Ireland tour after taking a two-year break to focus on his mental health.

The tour, which kicked off on September 7th in Sheffield, includes two concerts in Ireland.

It comes after Capaldi made a triumphant return to the spotlight in June earlier this year when he played a surprise set at Glastonbury.

“Second time’s a charm on this one, I just wanted to come and finish what I couldn’t finish last time,” Capaldi told the Glastonbury crowd, referring to his set at the festival two years previous when he struggled to perform due to Tourette syndrome.

The Someone You Loved singer described his decision to step away from the spotlight as a way to “release the pressure valve”. He acknowledged that the stresses of his sudden fame, his diagnoses with Tourette syndrome in 2022 and his anxiety made performing nearly impossible.

With his return Capaldi has released two new singles from his upcoming album, Survive and Something in the Heavens.

Are you heading to one of his Irish gigs? Here is everything you need to know.

When and where are the concerts?

Capaldi will perform two concerts at Dublin’s 3Arena on September 29th and 30th.

What time should I arrive?

Doors open at 6.30pm with support acts expected to start near 7pm. Capaldi will take to the stage at about 8.45pm. His set is about one hour and 25 minutes long, so the concert should end some time close to 10.15pm. Traffic and entry delays are inevitable, so make sure you give yourself a couple of hours’ leeway getting to and from the venue.

Who are the support acts?

Singer-songwriter Skye Newman and Dublin-based musician Aaron Rowe will warm up the crowd. Rowe came to Capaldi’s attention last year when he was at a friend’s stag do in Dublin and saw Rowe perform in a pub. The pair crossed paths a few weeks later at an open mic night in Nashville in the US where Capaldi introduced Rowe to his now manager.

What songs will Lewis Capaldi play?

Below is a set list performed by Capaldi at in London on September 18th – it might give an idea of what to expect in Dublin.

  • Survive
  • Grace
  • Heavenly Kind of State of Mind
  • Forever
  • Wish You The Best
  • Love the Hell Out of You
  • Almost (unreleased)
  • Bruises
  • Pointless
  • Something in the Heavens
  • Leave Me Slowly
  • Forget Me
  • The Pretender
  • The Day that I Die (unreleased)
  • Before You Go
  • How I’m Feeling Now
  • Hold Me While You Wait
  • Someone You Loved
How do I get there?

The venue is located by the Point Village on Dublin’s northside, so concertgoers are advised to use one of many public transport options to get there.

By bus:

The closest stop to the venue is Castleforbes Road which is a two-minute walk away and which the 151 Dublin Bus route stops at. It operates every 10 minutes during rush hour. The G1, G2 and N4 bus routes all have stops within a 10-minute walk from the venue.

By car:

Parking is available in the Point Village car park but spaces are limited. With large numbers gathering on show nights, traffic congestion can delay your arrival and departure so leave lots of time.

By Luas:

The Luas Red Line stops at Connolly Station which is about a 25-minute walk from the venue. You can switch from the Green Line to the Red Line in the city centre.

By train:

If you are coming into Connolly or Heuston station there are Luas or bus connections to the 3Arena.

Are there any tickets left?

Tickets are sold out on Ticketmaster for both nights. However it is possible that some verified resale tickets may become available.

Remember to download tickets to your phone in advance, as there may be internet or connectivity issues at the venue.

Do not rely on screenshots, as Ticketmaster often use live or dynamic barcodes that update regularly.

What about security?

Under-16s will require an accompanying adult aged 18 or over for any ticket type and the standing areas are strictly over-14s only. Make sure to bring an official form of identification with you such as a passport, Garda age card or driving licence.

Bags size A4 or more will not be permitted entry, and all bags will be subject to a search on arrival. Prohibited items include glass, cans, alcohol, garden furniture, umbrellas, flares, illegal substances or any item that could be used as a weapon.

Recording and taking pictures using a camera phone is no problem, but professional recording equipment will not be allowed inside the venue.

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Eurovision crisis: EBU confirms broadcasters to vote on excluding Israel in November

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The European Broadcasting Union, which organises the Eurovision Song Contest, has confirmed it will hold an online vote in November that could see Israeli broadcaster KAN expelled from Eurovision 2026.

For the first time, all member broadcasters will be invited to an extraordinary online General Assembly to vote on whether KAN can take part in the contest. The vote will be the only item on the agenda. 

In a letter sent to participating broadcasters, EBU president Delphine Ernotte Cunci wrote there was an “unprecedented diversity of views” on Israel’s participation in Eurovision, and that the issue required “a broader democratic basis”. 

“We can confirm that a letter has been sent from the executive board of the European Broadcasting Union to directors general of all our members informing them that a vote on participation in the Eurovision song contest 2026 will take place at an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s general assembly to be held online in early November.” 

This follows several European broadcasters threatening to boycott the world’s largest live music event should Israel take part.

Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia have all stated they would withdraw if Israel were kept on next year’s line-up. Danish broadcaster DR has stated it will not withdraw from Eurovision if Israel competes, but did set conditions for its continued participation. Both France and Australia recently confirmed their participation.

While Eurovision is supposedly apolitical, the EBU excluded Russia from the competition shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, Israel has continued to compete over the past two years despite international concerns over its actions in Gaza.

Both the 2024 contest in Sweden and this year’s event in Switzerland saw pro-Palestine protests.

More than 70 former Eurovision contestants have signed an open letter demanding Israel and its national broadcaster KAN be banned from the contest, and the winner of last year’s Eurovision, Austrian singer JJ, has said that he too wants Israel to be banned from the Eurovision 2026. 

Israel’s KAN issued a statement following the announcement of the November vote, reportedly expressing “hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to maintain its cultural and apolitical character.”

It also warned that excluding Israel from the contest “could be a step with wide-ranging implications.” No further elaboration was provided.

Since Hamas’ attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, multiple UN human rights experts have stated that Israel’s military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice finding claims of genocide plausible. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification announced that people in the Gaza Strip are officially facing “a man-made” famine in the territory – despite what the Israeli government has said.

The 70th anniversary edition of Eurovision is due to take place in Vienna, Austria.The finale will take place on 16 May after the semi-finals on 12 and 14 May 2026.

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