The actor, 37, appears in the title role of a young Danish prince haunted by his father's ghost and driven to the edge of madness in his obsession to avenge his death.

While some critics made barbed comments about theatre companies using big names to fill seats, Tennant's performance in the great role was roundly praised, with a few reservations.

The production is directed by Preston born director Greg Doran.

The actor performed in the RSC's production at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, where the production will stay until the middle of November before moving to the Novello Theatre in London from December to January.

The Guardian calls Tennant the "best Hamlet in years" while the Independent says he "excels as the wry, prankish provocateur".

The Express gave the performance three stars and labelled it "slightly surreal" and Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail says Tennant takes on "one of the English language's most demanding roles - and survives".

Michael Billington writes in the Guardian: "He is a fine Hamlet whose virtues, and occasional vices, are inseparable from the production itself."

Giving the production four stars, he says this is a Hamlet of "quicksilver intelligence, mimetic vigour and wild humour" calling Tennant an "active, athletic, immensely engaging Hamlet".

While Tennant stole the show, fellow sci-fi exile Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, was lauded in his role as Hamlet's uncle Claudius.

Mr Letts in the Mail says Tennant's Hamlet is "a sarcastic Hamlet, a selfish Hamlet, a Hamlet very much for our self-indulgent age".

He says he is "memorable" but "not the greatest Dane" with a "spirited but unripe" rendition. Mr Letts adds he is upstaged by a "deliciously subtle" performance from Stewart.

Hollywood star Jude Law is expected to appear in Michael Grandage's production of Hamlet in the West End next year.

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