Shakespeare through a different lens
The Bay Area’s weekly roundup of arts, culture, and community | February 20 to 26, 2026
You’ve had a chance to read the book, see the film in theaters, and soon you’ll be able to experience the play. The elegant and intentionally staged Hamnet will come to American Conservatory Theater this April as one of only three stops on The Royal Shakespeare Company and Neal Street Productions’ tour.
Hamnet offers us an entirely different lens for viewing Shakespeare and his work. His tragedies have been in our collective canon for hundreds of years, but his personal heartbreak is a new story that unfolds on stage. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, Hamnet is an interpretation of Shakespeare as a writer, father, and husband, before he became a mythical figure.
To tide you over until April, we’ve got some first-look photos of the production. Take a look and see if you recognize anyone (fans of Outlander: Blood of My Blood definitely will). — Ciara
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamnet, running April 22 – May 24, 2026 at Toni Rembe Theater | Photos by Kyle Flubacker
On the Stage
Mao Fujita
Classical | San Francisco Symphony
February 25 | Tickets
Fujita is an exclusive Sony Classical International artist and makes his San Francisco Symphony debut with this Shenson Spotlight Recital.
More Events
- A.I.M by Kyle Abraham | Cal Performances | February 21 – 22 | View Print Program
- Audio Described: February 22
- How Shakespeare Saved My Life | Berkeley Repertory Theatre | Now – March 1 | View Program
- Closed Captioned: every matinee through February 26
- M. Butterfly | San Francisco Playhouse | Now – March 14
- Paranormal Activity | American Conservatory Theater | Now – March 22 | View Program
Next Line
- “New Music” is an exceptionally broad category, but Cal Performances’ Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen has a short video to explain what it means (to their organization) and what you can expect from performances with the “New Music” label.
- Berkeley Rep has given us a sneak peek into their 2026/27 season and oh what a good peek it is: they will be presenting a world-premiere musical adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s novel, The Interestings, with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles (Waitress).
Subscribe to our Beyond the Stage newsletter for the best news and events from the Bay Area’s performing arts scene, every Friday.
