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Injury forces Tennant from Hamlet Hamlet no-show for actor Tennant
(about 4 hours later)
Doctor Who actor David Tennant was forced to pull out of a performance of Hamlet on Monday because of an "ongoing back injury". Doctor Who actor David Tennant has pulled out of a second performance of Hamlet due to a back injury.
The 37-year-old is currently starring in the Royal Shakespeare Company production at London's Novello Theatre. The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has decided to go ahead with Tuesday's press night performance with understudy Edward Bennett in the title role.
An RSC spokeswoman said: "We're waiting to hear whether he'll be able to perform tonight on press night." The play's director Gregory Doran said Tennant was "gutted" to disappoint the audience at London's Novello Theatre.
The sold-out production, which also stars Patrick Stewart, has just transferred from Stratford upon Avon. Tennant, 37, who also missed Monday's preview performance, is due to play Hamlet until 10 January.
Edward Bennett, who normally plays Laertes in the production, played Hamlet in Tennant's absence and received a "standing ovation", according to the RSC. Doran said: "David is gutted, not only at the thought of disappointing audiences, but also to be unable to perform a role that he has worked on and developed throughout 60 performances in Stratford-upon-Avon.
"Before this injury, he has only ever been off for one performance in his entire career to date, and is hoping that he will be able to return to the show as quickly as possible.
"It is an indication of the RSC's investment in understudies that Ed Bennett can take over from David in one of Shakespeare's largest roles at such short notice."
Bennett, who normally plays the role of Laertes, received a standing ovation from at the the theatre on Monday when he stepped into Tennant's role.
Sold-out
RSC artistic director Michael Boyd said on Tuesday afternoon: "As an ensemble company we feel that it is important to go ahead with tonight's performance.
"While understanding that some people will be disappointed at not seeing David Tennant on stage, this production, like all our productions, is more than the sum of its parts - an ensemble of actors, designers, composers etc. and we should respect that by going ahead as planned."
The sold-out production, which also stars Patrick Stewart, has just transferred from Stratford-upon-Avon.
Tickets for the London shows sold out within three hours when they went on sale in September.Tickets for the London shows sold out within three hours when they went on sale in September.
However, Tennant's back trouble is not the first problem to have affected the show.However, Tennant's back trouble is not the first problem to have affected the show.
Last week the RSC confirmed it had been targeted by counterfeiters. Last week the RSC said it had been targeted by counterfeiters.
Around 800 people were warned to arrive early to performances to exchange tickets over fears forgeries had been issued.Around 800 people were warned to arrive early to performances to exchange tickets over fears forgeries had been issued.
Tennant, who is best known for playing Doctor Who, recently announced he would no longer play the Time Lord.
The actor stepped into the Tardis in 2005, and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast in 2009 and 2010.