Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Lyric Theatre, King Street, Hammersmith, London 06 to 29 March 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
Photo Credit: Richard Lakos.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Lyric Theatre, King Street, Hammersmith, London W 6 to 29 March 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
“Hugely entertaining.”
Shakespeare could well be surprised by what the English Touring Theatre and director Richard Twyman have done to his work but he would probably enjoy it all the same. It does look as if ETT have discovered a hitherto unknown work by the Bard, possibly the Comedy of Terrors but more like the one known as The Scottish Play. Blood flows, bagpipes get played, men wear smart black kilts, no witches appear, some characters are of different sex, Lady Macbeth carries a mobile telephone and when she and her husband relax after shedding blood they sing and dance to Two Sleepy People. As played by Lois Chimimba she sounds rather as if she is appearing in the Shirley Henderson story so accurate is her West Coast Scottish accent, but as Macbeth Alex Austin essays no Scottish tones and seems to be more constructed as a some mothers do have them sort of chap, long, lanky and helpless at times of crises.It all takes place in what looks like the entrance to a rather down market hotel with the addition of huge video screens along the top of the walls on which events get shown that are taking place down below on the stage. The dinner when Banquo's ghost appears, for instance is there before your very eyes on stage and on the screen stage left with no ghost but on the screen stage right there he is dripping gore, a rather effective thing to have done. As an introduction to Shakespear it is pretty useless because nobody speaks the verse to any great effect and the plot has been pretty well so messed up as to make little or no sense. However it is hugely enjoyable, holds the attention throughout and Chimimba and Austin are always watchable and it is, since this is a touring company, something of a tour de force. Visceral and contemporary it is claimed – if they say so. High spot was seeing the list of cocktails devised for the occasion by the theatre bar – top of the list was Scottish King – Famous Grouse, Amaretto, Cherry Syrup and Lime Juice £10. One before hand would certainly set one up for what was to come – something wicked.
Cast
Gabriel Akuwudike – Banquo
Bella Aubin – Malcolm
Alex Austin – Macbeth
Lois Chimimba – Lady Macbeth
David Colvin – Macduff
Daniel Hawksford – Duncan
Bianca Stephens – Lady Macduff
Sophie Stone – Ross
Eli Murphy, Klyde Dennis, Luke Howitt – Young Company
Creatives
Director – Richard Twyman
Designer – Basia Bikkowska
Lighting Designer – Azusa Ono
Sound Designer – Tingying Dong
Projection Designer – Will Duke
Movement Director – Rachael Nanyonjo
Fight Directir – Sam Lyon-Behan
Dramaturg – Rikki Henry
Costume Supervisor – Natalie Jackson
