MST graduate stars in the Royal Shakespeare Company's American tour of Hamnet

Nicki Hobday, who studied Contemporary Theatre and Performance (now DCP) at Manchester School of Theatre, is currently touring America as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamnet. Following the success of the 2025 film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, this new theatre production from The Royal Shakespeare Company is now touring across Chicago, Washington DC and San Francisco. 

Speaking on featuring in the production across America Nicki Hobday said: “I’m having a lot of fun. The timing with the film has helped the buzz I think. We rehearsed in London before coming to the US. I think the play is beautiful, I feel very lucky to be a part of it. As a company we hold each other well through performing such a sad story 8 shows a week. Departments are very specific here - in the UK roles can be a bit more general - everyone chips in, or has maybe trained in multiple things, here there is a wardrobe team who ONLY do wardrobe, props do props, etc. Also because of the scale of this there are so many people behind the scenes making the show happen. Another difference is audiences, UK audiences can be quite reserved. Here, they react throughout - it’s great”.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is one of the most acclaimed theatre companies in the world. Nicki explained how she found working with the prestigious company:  “I feel aware of the prestige, but I probably feel less pressure to be honest - with a company like this there is so much support available to us individually and as a company at all times. Everything is so well organised, there is such a clear structure in place, everyone is incredibly professional and excellent at their job, so everyone can just focus on doing what they’re here to do. It’s a privilege to be working with them”. 

Nicki also commented on how her time studying Contemporary Theatre and Performance (now DCP) at Manchester School of Theatre impacted her creative practice and the oppurtunities it has offered: “The course didn’t just develop my practice it birthed it. The tutors (many are still teaching there) were brilliant, most of them practising artists which was invaluable for a course like that. It taught me what theatre can be and I got so much experience not just at uni but around / outside the course too. A lot of my degree looked at the work of Forced Entertainment, and after graduating I spent years touring the world with them, performing in some of the shows I had watched on video tapes in class. I’ve been to places I never thought I’d even visit! In 2016 I performed the first durational show I’d ever done with FE at the museum of contemporary art in Chicago and 10 years later I am back in Chicago with the RSC. I could list so many favourite highlights looking back, which is nice because although I’ve appreciated every opportunity I’ve been fortunate enough to have - it’s been a long journey of working other jobs and questioning whether there is even a career in it. It feels important to say that as well”.

Find out more about the RSC and their production of Hamnet

Study DCP at Manchester School of Theatre