Andre Tchaikovsky's distracting skull will no longer be used in Hamlet

London, Dec 3 : The Royal Shakespeare Company has decided that they will no longer use Polish composer and pianist Andre Tchaikovsky's real skull in Hamlet, as it is "too distracting for the audience".

The use of the skull had been kept a secret during the play's four-month run in Stratford until leading man David Tennant revealed that it had belonged to Tchaikovsky, who had bequeathed his skull to the RSC for use in the play.

Tchaikovsky had left his skull to the RSC in 1982 after he died of cancer, and its use in the play came after a quarter of a century.

However, it will no longer be part of the on stage play Hamlet when it transfers to West End. After its true origin was revealed, it is believed that audiences began to over-react whenever they saw the skull.

Terry Harrison, a former agent and friend of Tchaikovsky, revealed that he was "disappointed" by the decision.

"I understand that artists are very sensitive, most are... and I could imagine someone not being very comfortable... so I think that David Tennant was wonderful that he did it," the Telegraph quoted him as telling Channel 4 News.

Harrison also added that the pianist "hated" the use of a plastic skull.

"He hated the way it was done. When he saw it with the RSC, he (Andre) said 'I am going to leave my skull to the RSC, they really should have a proper skull. It doesn't work with the plastic thing they have'. And then we looked at his will, and there it was," he added.

ANI