David Tennant: A PIANIST’S dying wish has been fulfilled after the actor David Tennant used his skull in a performance of Shakespeare's Hamlet. (INDEPENDENT)

By Stephen Adams – 28 February 2013

When André Tchaíkowsky died of cancer in 1982 aged 46 he donated his body for medical science.

David Tennant has used the skull of a former pianist in performances of Hamlet at Stratford

But he added the proviso that his skull "shall be offered by the institution receiving my body to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in theatrical performance."

Since then it has only been used in rehearsals because no actor felt comfortable enough using it on stage in front of an audience.

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."

Now, unbeknownst to the paying public, Dr Who actor Tennant has used the skull in 22 performances of Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon.

- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/pianists-dying-wish-fulfilled-as-david-tennant-uses-his-skull-in-hamlet-performance-29101090.html#sthash.xXuQLYxy.dpuf