Macbeth

Shakespeare is not everybody’s ‘cup of tea’ but I can remember at school having to study his works as part of the English Literature exam. For the uninitiated this is the tale of one man’s ambition to become King, fulfilled by a string of murders that led to his own end. Are the witches, ghosts and aspirations he encounters a product of a scheming or guilty mind? But what is real, is that this play is one considerable challenge to stage and produce well.

A dark misty stage with minimal scenery set the atmosphere of a bleak Scottish moor. Lighting was therefore important and James Dean’s design worked perfectly adding to the atmosphere. Scenes were changed by the cast moving rostra, to act as tables/bed or platform. Costumes were very simple with the cast wearing all black (apart from Lady Macbeth) with a covering shawl, although not so sure about Macbeth wearing a hoodie! You wouldn’t think choreography would be needed in a Shakespearian play but the fight scenes need to be planned and rehearsed. Rebecca Justins, Helen Thorpe and Nick Wray are to be congratulated on the created fighting realism.  

Matthew Springett as Macbeth was outstanding, producing a performance which highlighted his characters fall from hero to murderer and Helen Cheales made an excellent manipulative Lady Macbeth. These two actors complimented each other perfectly, their characters had a number of transitions throughout the play which they were able pull off expertly, highlighting the manipulation of Macbeth by Lady Macbeth and the terrible psychological haunting guilt they both suffered. 

The three witches Fiona Young, Jean Erxleben and Carol Smith were suitably sinister and eerie and worked well together. Other cast members, especially the young lady who stood in for Macduff and Tim Molyneux as Banquo, did an excellent job with their characters. Actors who played more than one role were able to transition very well from their main character and back again. 

Director Helen Thorpe was fortunate to work with a very talented group of actors who produced a number of different characters while at the same time working well together and complimenting each other excellently. All gave high quality performances with clear diction, which is very important when performing Shakespeare meaning the dialogue and the story could be followed. 

Am I a convert to Shakespeare? The jury is still out on that one, but TTC’s production has gone a long way in persuading me! 

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