Macbeth

"Superb... Anyone who likes Shakespeare will enjoy this production and many who see it for the first time will be converted to how Shakespeare can be accessible, relevant, and thoroughly entertaining."

"Time-tested tension does not fail as Macbeth’s ‘vaulting ambition’ and Lady Macbeth’s sinister scheming weave and woof around the audience’s attention..".

"The performance was extraordinary... Electrifying... The cast's acting absorbed us.. transporting us into a world of avarice, paranoia, mania and betrayal."

“It can be easy for a play like Macbeth, where characters such as Macbeth (Danny Solomon) and Lady Macbeth’s (Hannah Ellis Ryan) personas change so quickly, to make it seem rushed, or lazily done but this was not the case with Jake Murray’s production, much to the casts’ merit. Overall, it was a delicious watch of unfolding madness, and an enjoyable reacquaintance to Shakespeare.”

“The pairing of Danny Solomon as Macbeth and Hannah Ellis Ryan as Lady Macbeth was perfect. Their charisma shone as their lust for power ultimately leads to their demise. The simple staging allowed the spotlight to be on the cast – and rightly so. Effective lighting and sound added to the drama and tension. A shout-out must go to the movement and choreography team too as the sword fights were thrilling, as the sound of metal on metal echoed throughout the theatre.”

Shakespeare’s epic play about the power of evil, presented as part of the Durham Shakespeare Festival and the Durham Fringe Festival 2023

Conceived with Durham University and the Durham Fringe Festival as a way to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the First Folio edition of his works, the Durham Shakespeare Festival presented Macbeth with A Midsummer Night’s Dream using the same company of 13 actors.

Rehearsed side by side by two different directors over three weeks, they were performed in different venues across Durham County and in the heart of Durham City itself, capturing the range and versatility of the world’s greatest playwright.

Performed at: Ushaw House, Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham, Palace Green, Durham

CAST (in alphabetical order):

Michael Blair – Macduff

Steve Byron – Duncan, Porter, Old Man, Old Seward

Heather Carroll – 2nd Witch, Gentlewoman, Seyton

Alexander Arran Cowan – Donalbain, 1st Murderer, Apparitions, Young Seward

Alice Faith – 3rd Witch, Fleance, Young Macduff, Messenger

Jake Jarratt – Ross

Elaine MacNicol – 1st Witch, Lady Macduff, Servant, Caithness

Luke Maddison – Sergeant, 2nd Murderer, Apparition, Doctor

Hannah Ellis Ryan – Lady Macbeth

Danny Solomon – Macbeth

Ben Storey – Banquo

Alex Townson – Malcolm

Ben Welford – Lennox

Apparitions:
Aaron Burton, Stella Dyer, Charlotte Jayne, Georgia Keys, Courtney Nixon, Lionel Yabantu

CREATIVES

Directed by Jake Murray

Costumes by Anna Hayward, Abby Wilkinson, Emily Waller and Carrie Cheung

Lighting by Jessica Brigham

Sound by Chris Neville-Smith

Fights by Neil Tattersall and Rick Garrad

Movement by Jennifer Essex and Jake Murray

Stage Management by Lee Ward

Tech support by Andrew Glassford

PR by Rusby Media

Supported by Durham University, Durham County Council and the English Association