HAMLET's Benedict Cumberbatch Shocks Audience During Post-Performance Appeal For Save the Children

In addition to being an enormously popular stage and screen actor, Benedict Cumberbatch has been an outspoken activist for social issues and charitable causes.

Most recently, he's been donating his services to Save The Children in their efforts to assist with the current crisis in Syria, where an estimated 9 million have fled their homes since the outbreak of civil war in March 2011, seeking safety in other countries.

As the Guardian reports, Cumberbatch has been regularly giving post-performance appeals for donations from the Barbican stage after his performances in Hamlet, raising over £150,000, but his speech following Tuesday evening's performance included an extra sentiment in his speech, "F--- the politicians"

The actor has been critical of the British government's decision to allow only 20,000 refugees over five years. His usual speech includes telling of a friend's experience volunteering on the Greek island of Lesbos, where he says 5,000 people had been arriving every day.

The Guardian quotes one audience member as saying, "It's not quite what you'd expect when you go for an evening with the bard, but it got a few cheers."

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In the video, Benedict Cumberbatch introduces "Help is Coming," a Crowded House song being re-released with Save the Children to raise money for refugees fleeing to Europe to escape conflict. The fund-raising video features footage from refugee camps and shows people attempting to travel to a country of sanctuary. Crowded House's Neil Finn and Capitol Records have agreed to donate all the royalties to Save The Children

Shakespeare' Hamlet, produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and presented by the Barbican, concludes it's 12-week run tomorrow, 31 October 2015. Set designs are by Es Devlin with costume designs by Katrina Lindsay, video by Luke Halls, lighting by Jane Cox, music by Jon Hopkins, sound by Christopher Shutt, movement by Sidi Larbi Cherkaouiand fights by Bret Yount.

The production was broadcast to cinemas around the world on Thursday 15 October 2015 as part of National Theatre Live - the National Theatre's ground-breaking project which broadcasts plays live from the stage to over 550 cinemas in the UK and over 44 countries internationally. Details of all screenings, including Encore performances, can be found at ntlive.com.