Coming in 2017 is a brand new production of Hamlet on audio, from the Big Finish team behind the much acclaimed The Confessions of Dorian Gray.

“Playing the Dane in studio was the biggest challenge I've had as an actor,” says Alexander, “without having to learn the lines! As a character, Shakespeare has created a fully-realised, troubled soul and - at the beginning of the play - his life comes crashing down. Getting into that mindset was deeply fulfilling. It was a joy to work with such an amazing group of actors who helped bring our world of Elsinore to life.”

Joining Alexander as Hamlet are Miles Richardson as King Claudius, Tracey Childs as Queen Gertrude, Terry Molloy as Polonius, Daniel Brocklebank as Horatio, Deirdre Mullins as Ophelia, Samuel Barnett as Laertes, and Barnaby Edwards as the Ghost. Jolyon Westhorpe and Geoffrey Breton appear as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with Youssef Kerkour, Alex Jordan and James Joyce providing the voices of guardsmen Barnardo, Francisco and Marcellus.

“It’s an incredible cast,” agrees producer/director Scott Handcock. “Every one of them loves both Shakespeare and audio drama - many having worked with us on The Confessions of Dorian Gray - so this Big Finish version of Hamlet was a dream for all concerned. Daunting, different and technically very demanding, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before!”

“I think it's Shakespeare's best work,” continues Vlahos, “and it's had a very strong link with my early career. I performed a version of Hamlet called 'The Elsinore Project' after graduating from the RWCMD, and then worked in John Simm’s acclaimed version at the Sheffield Crucible. Adding to this my fundamental belief that Hamlet should be played young - as he is in the play - that was the start of the journey. I'm thrilled Scott agreed to work with me again and that Big Finish wanted to help us.”

Hamlet will be released in August 2017 in a three-disc set, including interviews with the cast, and is now available to pre-order on CD (£16.99) and download (£14.99). Check out other titles in the Big Finish Classics range.