A production that reinvents one of the best known plays in the world, making it accessible and exciting to a contemporary audience yet remaining faithful to Shakespeare’s text.
Set deep in London’s violent underworld, Macbeth is predicted to become the greatest gangland leader since the notorious Krays.
This is a fast moving action packed thriller. The events unfold in The Glamis Arms, a mobster pub run by Lady Macbeth whilst her husband conducts ‘business’ for local Godfather King Duncan.
The performance is enhanced by the excitement of promenade theatre within Gilded Balloon’s main house, where the audience take the identity of the pub’s regulars. As Ladies Macbeth and Macduff serve at the bar, local folk group The Weird Sisters warm up, then with a crack of gunshot the play has begun.
‘All the pub’s a stage’ as the action of the play takes place all around the audience, while the Macbeths plot behind the bar, the King sits at a table to hear news of the latest gang warfare and the Thanes take the central table for the banquet scene.
‘A production which takes real risks without once dropping standards...a battered TV set runs grimy Crimewatch videos of offstage action...a near perfect example of how to integrate action with audience’
The Stage
Bold, brash and focussed… extremely effective’
The Independent
‘Execution and elocution was impressive… polished, professional’
The Scotsman
Macbeth
Cast:
Paul Coldrick as Ross
Paul Hampton as Banquo
Simon Howells as Seyton
Vicky Instone as Lady Macduff
Silas James as Lennex
Joe Marshall as Malcolm
Callum O’Neill as Macduff
Ed Rees as Duncan
Angela Shaftoe as Witch
Neil Sheppeck as Macbeth
Charlotte Thornton as Lady Macbeth.
Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh: August 3rd - 27th 2001.
