Alas poor Tchaíkowsky

André Tchaíkowsky died of cancer in 1982 aged 46. He donated his body for medical science with the proviso that his skull "shall be offered by the institution receiving my body to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in theatrical performance."

HOWEVER although the skull has been used in rehearsals it has never been used on stage.

David Howells, curator of the RSC's archives, said:

In 1989 the actor Mark Rylance rehearsed with it for quite a while but he couldn't get past the fact it wasn't Yorick's, it was André Tchaíkowsky's.

However Mr Tchaikowsky has finally got his wish. David Tennant(yep he of Dr Who fame) has used the skull in 22 performances of Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon this year.