Ham Review: Vegan Hamlet Rebukes Carnivores with Meat-Free Fury 2026

The Ham review of Mary Higgins and Ell Potter's new show reveals a vegan Hamlet that delivers a meaty rebuke to carnivores, blending outrageous comedy with existential climate dread. This performance-activism piece, premiering at Summerhall during the Edinburgh festival, transposes Shakespeare's tragedy onto the future of humanity through the lens of the meat industry's planetary impact.

Higgins plays the stubborn prince, seeking vengeance for a slaughtered pig's ghost, while Potter embodies both the ghost and Gertrude with suave silliness. The show's anarchic energy—from naked dancing to a dom/sub audience interaction—forces viewers to confront their own complicity in environmental destruction, all while maintaining a riotous, laugh-out-loud tone.

Vegan Hamlet: A Bold Reimagining of Shakespeare's Prince

This vegan Hamlet cleverly reworks the Bard's famous soliloquies into a guilt-trippy dialogue about meat consumption. Higgins's portrayal of the prince is stubborn and sauntering, while Potter's love of food—nicknamed "the sausage queen" by their dad—adds a genuine personal dilemma to the moral high ground. The duo's chemistry keeps the show from becoming purely haranguing, instead twirling it into a shared existential crisis.

As the performance progresses, it swerves from easy Shakespearean parody into darker territory, jolting audiences to look anew at what they know and ignore. The show's core message, as Higgins states, isn't about the murders of animals alone but the suicide of the human race—though brutal, scarring images of animal slaughter are not shied away from.

Climate Change Theatre: Laughs with a World-Ending Dread

This climate change theatre piece layers hooting comedy with world-ending dread, making it a unique entry in the Edinburgh festival's lineup. The show's final sequence features footage of recent forest fires, starting across the ocean and moving closer to the UK, culminating in Arthur's Seat. This visceral imagery transforms the performance from a hypothetical warning into an urgent, present-day reality.

The comparison between the show's comedic antics and its serious message is stark, as illustrated in the table below:

Key Takeaways from the Ham Review

• Vegan Hamlet reimagines Shakespeare's existential questions for the climate crisis.
• The show balances climate change theatre with laugh-out-loud comedy.
• Potter's role as the meat-loving foil prevents the piece from becoming purely preachy.
• Final forest fire footage brings the message home, making it unignorable.
• Performances at Summerhall, Edinburgh, until 30 August.

Why This Ham Review Matters for Theatre Goers

This Ham review highlights a groundbreaking piece of performance art that challenges audiences to rethink their dietary choices. The show's ability to mix hooting comedy with world-ending dread makes it a standout at the Edinburgh festival, appealing to both Shakespeare fans and climate activists alike.

For those seeking a theatre experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, this vegan Hamlet delivers a powerful punch. It's a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of art, activism, and environmental sustainability.

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