Any actor taking on Hamlet has to contend with the ghosts of famous Hamlets past, but Michael Maloney, in Yukio Ninagawa's new production, has a more daunting task than most. The last time the celebrated Japanese director visited Britain with Hamlet, it was with Hiroyuki Sanada, who brought considerable martial skill to the lead, somersaulting up and downstairs during the fight scene. Will Maloney be following suit? "No I won't, thank you very much!" laughs the actor, in mock indignation.

But Ninagawa would not have wanted any athletic displays: the purpose of this production is to make the most of the English actors' verbal skills.