Ian McKellen follows in the footsteps of David Warner and Antony Sher as he takes on a character who has been played as wittily jovial and cruelly cunning

The actor pays tribute to his illustrious colleague, who died last week, and recalls the lessons he learned as a young First Player opposite him in Shakespeare’s tragedy

The artist remembers filming the actor, who died this week, in a work bringing together three great stage Hamlets – a valedictory performance that moved his son to tears

From cyberspace to AI, Steven Lisberger’s 1982 sci-fi classic was way ahead of its time. The team behind it explain how they made a game-changer

Michael Billington recalls a feast of Falstaffs including Joss Ackland, David Warner and Orson Welles. Tell us your favourite versions of these state-of-the-nation plays