The Royal Shakespeare Company’s award-winning production of Hamlet, directed by RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran, and with David Tennant in the title role, will premiere on BBC Two later this year.

All key original members of the cast, including Patrick Stewart as Claudius, are confirmed to star in this special 180-minute production, alongside the same creative team.

Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two, says: “This is a wonderful opportunity for BBC Two to bring one of the great stage successes of last year to a wider audience.”

RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd said: “We are very pleased that this RSC production will be seen by so many people when broadcast.

“As the show was sold out for its entire run, this is a really great opportunity for our work to be seen by so many who could not come to the theatre and see it on stage.”

Filming begins in June for broadcast later this year on BBC Two.

Broadcasts in the United States and Japan will follow in 2010.

The director Gregory Doran said: “Contrary to press reports at the time, the RSC always had plans to make a recording of this production but had the inevitable long journey in getting the cast together again and securing funding for this project. The Hamlet cast and the RSC are all really delighted that we now have the chance to share this show with audiences around the world, and I would like to thank all those involved in making this plan a reality at last.”