Fat Ham: (NHB Modern Plays)

'It's amazing what fathers think they own of their sons just 'cause we share a name.'

Juicy is a queer college kid from the American South, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in the backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder.

The story is familiar, but what's different is Juicy himself: a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence that have constrained him.

Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, James Ijames's play Fat Ham reinvents Shakespeare's Hamlet in startling and hilarious ways against the backdrop of a Southern family barbecue.

A delectable comic tragedy and a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy, the play was originally co-produced Off-Broadway by The Public Theater and National Black Theatre in 2022, before transferring to Broadway in 2023 and being nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Play. It received its European premiere at the Swan Theatre with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2025.

'James Ijames's outstanding transformation of Shakespeare's tragedy into a play about Black masculinity and queerness, both echoes Hamlet and finds a language beyond it... the effect is stunning, making the play a living text, moving between Hamlet, the story happening on the stage, and the world beyond the fourth wall' — The New York Times

'Fat Ham uses the silhouette of Shakespeare's masterwork to birth something new, a vicious critique of masculinity and violence infused with a much-needed hilarity' — Guardian

'A broad, buoyant comedy... James Ijames's riff on Hamlet is an unalloyed comedy pleasure' — Wall Street Journal

'A fresh and vital force' — New Yorker

'Hamlet said it first: "What a piece of work."' — Vulture

'A Hamlet for our times... an irreverent critique of masculinity that cleverly walks a tightrope between tragedy and high comedy' — The Times

'Bold, accessible, and swaggeringly confident... a joyous queer soap opera... fun, engaging and often thrillingly unexpected' — The Stage

Pulitzer Prize for Drama

'James Ijames's outstanding transformation of Shakespeare's tragedy into a play about Black masculinity and queerness, both echoes Hamlet and finds a language beyond it... the effect is stunning, making the play a living text, moving between Hamlet, the story happening on the stage, and the world beyond the fourth wall'

'Fat Ham uses the silhouette of Shakespeare's masterwork to birth something new, a vicious critique of masculinity and violence infused with a much-needed hilarity'

'A broad, buoyant comedy... James Ijames's riff on Hamlet is an unalloyed comedy pleasure'

'A fresh and vital force'

'Hamlet said it first: "What a piece of work."'

'A Hamlet for our times... an irreverent critique of masculinity that cleverly walks a tightrope between tragedy and high comedy'

'Bold, accessible, and swaggeringly confident... a joyous queer soap opera... fun, engaging and often thrillingly unexpected'

'An intelligent, hilarious and thoughtful piece of writing that fully deserves all the plaudits that it has received... so much more than a reworking of Hamlet... It is an examination of Black culture, queer identity and the impact of history on the present. It is a script that is fully respectful of Shakespeare's original text, whilst also knowing exactly how far to be irreverent and transgressive. It is a play that has a unique voice and the power to delight as well as make audiences reflect... It has a lightness of touch, a confidence and a rich vein of humour that means it is a play that fills audiences with joy'

'Electrifying... James Ijames' layered writing thrills from the first moment, quickly luring the audience in with wit, humour, and sharp writing... a roaring triumph'

'A joyful, liberating celebration of queer identity and resilience... unlike anything else on the UK stage right now. It's fresh, fearless, and unforgettable'

'Deliciously sharp... a profound exploration of breaking generational cycles and forging your own path. It resonates on multiple levels, encompassing emotional, personal, and cultural themes, but it's not all heavy... fresh, energetic and outrageously fun... a joyous explosion of laughter'