RUBBING shoulders with Wimbledon and Henley on the De Bretts list of the top five things to do in England has established Brownsea Island Open Air Theatre (Boat) as one of the most successful companies performing traditional Shakespeare in Britain.

This year’s leading man Neil Mathieson, however, definitely doesn’t come across as your traditional Hamlet.

“Please don’t make me sound like a total luvvie,” he pleads, only half joking, as we chat, the antiquated church behind us and the towering set in front – Boat’s biggest, most impressive yet.

As he begins to talk, it is clear Neil’s fears are unfounded. It would be beyond difficult to pin down this unaffected, genuine man as a luvvie.

“I’m desperately trying to forget how famous some of the lines are,” he says. “I want to make them sound as natural as possible – if I were to think of these lines as famous speeches, then that is how they’d come out, wooden and rather dull.”

Neil’s performance is likely to be anything but dull. The actor may have had an enormous amount of lines to learn – Hamlet is not famed for an “actions speak louder than words” approach – but he has also taken weekly fencing lessons in readiness for the frantic sword-fighting finale.

What would Neil say to those who dismiss Hamlet as one of Shakespeare’s more highbrow plays, fit only for the most intellectual theatre-goer?

“No way. I think it’s very accessible to everyone – it’s a really good thriller at its most basic level. I guess you have to remember when this play was written theatre was one of the most popular forms of entertainment – performed to the masses, from every walk of life.

“I don’t think, just because our language has developed and changed over the last 400 years, that people can’t identify with it like they would, say, a movie.

“Hamlet has some beautiful verse and prose which is fairly easy to tune in to.”

Not surprisingly then, for someone who believes Shakespeare should be readily accessible, Neil admits his biggest inspiration for the part has been YouTube.

“I’ve watched practically every Hamlet clip I could find on YouTube,” he laughs, “Thank you, modern technology!”

Kenneth Branagh’s film version, of course, is also a point of reference.

Advice to those hopefuls from the man who has literally been there, done that and survived the sword fight?

Neil thinks carefully before answering: “The main thing is commitment – you rehearse three times a week, plus each Sunday as you get closer to the production.

“Learn your lines quickly – that way you have more time to try different ways of delivering them. And most importantly, listen to your director – he’s there to make you look good!”

Although Brownsea Open Air Theatre has an impressive reputation, all members are unpaid volunteers and it has been known for those with very little stage experience to take parts.

As Neil explains: “I don’t think you need a lot of experience to get involved. A bit is advantageous if you want one of the main parts, but it depends what you want to get out of it – the director, Jo Puttick in this case, is there to help and steer you through it all.”

l Hamlet will be performed on Brownsea Island from July 22 to August 7 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information visit brownsea-theatre.co.uk or call 01202 251 987.