Suzy Eddie Izzard received a round of applause on Sunday after the opening night of her one-woman show on Broadway.
Izzard, 62, has embarked on an ambitious, single-handed presentation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Greenwich House Theater in New York City, with the comedian playing each role alone from a revised script written by her brother Mark.
And she received a positive response from American audiences last weekend, with Izzard, Mark and actress Selina Cadell – who is directing the play – receiving their respective bouquets of flowers after taking a bow.
All three have returned to New York after producing a one-woman adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Great Expectations on Broadway and in London’s West End in 2023.
In Hamlet, Shakespeare’s longest and perhaps most challenging play, Izzard takes on a diverse cast of characters, including soldiers, ghosts, kings, queens, footmen, princes and courtiers.
Suzy Eddie Izzard received a round of applause on Sunday after the opening night of her one-woman show on Broadway
Actress Selina Caddell (left), writer Mark Izzard (center) and actor Suzy Eddie Izzard (right) respectively accepted bouquets of flowers after taking a bow at the Greenwich House Theater
“It’s a great challenge, but there’s no point in living without facing challenges,” Izzard told the Associated Press shortly before announcing the piece. “You’re just at the edge of your skills and going even further.
‘I want it so ten-year-olds can get this. I want it for the people who don’t find Shakespeare easy, like I didn’t when I was a dyslexic child.’
Caddell, whose diverse TV and film career includes roles in The Catherine Tate Show, Victoria Wood, Doc Martin and The Madness Of King George, added: ‘I have always been drawn to playing complex and challenging characters and Hamlet is the ultimate .
‘This is a production for everyone, a timeless drama with an accidental hero. Selina, Mark and I want the audience to see and hear an accessible, moving, scary and dramatic Hamlet.’
The Broadway run comes shortly after Izzard failed to become Labour’s candidate for Brighton Pavilion at the next general election.
The stand-up comedian was defeated by music industry activist Tom Gray, marking the second time she has been defeated in her bid to stand as an MP.
Izzard, who identifies as a gender fluid trans woman, was also not selected as the Labor candidate in Sheffield Central last year when councilor Abtisam Mohamed was elected instead.
In a social media video announcing her candidacy in August, Izzard had praised Brighton as an “open-minded” city that “welcomes everyone” and pointed to her “roots” in Sussex.
Izzard has embarked on her own presentation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in New York City, with the comedian playing each role alone from a script written by her brother Mark.
The play’s director, writer and actor were back in New York City after producing a one-woman adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Great Expectations on Broadway in 2023
Caddell hugged Izzard as the tragedy, Shakespeare’s longest and perhaps most challenging play, came to a close on Sunday
“It’s a great challenge, but there’s no point in living without facing challenges,” Izzard told the Associated Press shortly before announcing the piece.
It came after the Greens lost control of Brighton and Hove City Council when Labor regained power in the city at local elections in May.
After being selected as the Labor candidate, Gray wrote: ‘Delighted and humbled to have been selected as the Labor candidate for Brighton Pavilion.
‘Thank you to everyone who helped with the campaign and thanks to Eddie, Lucy and Birgit for showing so much solidarity and integrity along the way.’
The current MP for Brighton Pavilion is Green politician Caroline Lucas, who will stand down at the next general election.