LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

Mamma Mia The Party Tickets
  • Home
  • London Musicals
    • Plays in London
    • London Theatres
      • Matinees
      • Seating Plans
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Ballet
    • Cabaret
    • Children’s Theatre
    • Circus
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Immersive
    • Music
    • Musicals
    • Opera
    • Plays
    • UK Show News
  • ATG Tickets
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Reviews » Play » Macbeth by Guildford Shakespeare Company | Review

Macbeth by Guildford Shakespeare Company | Review

February 12, 2020 Last updated: February 12, 2020 1:17 pm By Sally Knipe

GSC Macbeth 2020 | Matt Pereira Photography
GSC Macbeth 2020 | Matt Pereira Photography

Guildford Shakespeare Company’s (GCS) content warning certainly tells you everything you need to know! “Shakespeare’s Macbeth contains themes of violence, war, murder, infanticide and the supernatural.” No surprises then.

However, the production is set against the background of a very contemporary guerrilla war, with whistling gunfire amidst a smoky haze, making the audience feel as if they could be in the line of fire. This made the atmosphere much more real and immediate and, quite frankly, scarier than most productions I have seen before. Maybe I should have paid more heed to the warning.

The three witches come screaming down the aisles towards the stage, seemingly far more frightened than frightening. They run right into the action but are cut down by sniper fire and, for the rest of the play, they appear as zombie-like creatures. Their rise from the dead is terrifying but also rather beautiful; the movement director, Laura Weston, really deserves a special mention for achieving scenes worthy of ballet, especially in the confined space of a Georgian church. Set and Costume Designer, Neil Irish, also manages to evoke a realistic sense of battlefields, battlements and banqueting hall in this confined space. Costumes seem contemporary, without jarring with Shakespeare’s text. The action scenes are also very well choreographed.

The entire GSC cast are as reliable as ever, especially as most of them, except for the actors playing Lord and Lady Macbeth, are juggling many parts, and dealing with many costume changes and switches of character. Stella Taylor, in the role of Lady Macbeth, is particularly effective in managing to transform from a beautiful, loving wife and charming hostess, to an evil and power-hungry partner-in-crime, as her desire to be queen overtakes her. Annabelle Terry, Lucy Pearson and Dan Krikler were all wonderful as the three witches, quite the most terrifying weird sisters I have seen.

This is a fast-paced and action-packed production leaving the audience (and presumably the cast) exhausted, exhilarated and thoroughly entertained. I can’t wait until the next one.

4 stars

Review by Sally Knipe

As a bloody war draws to its conclusion, the celebrated warrior Macbeth and his ambitious wife are propelled headfirst into a chilling quest for ultimate power, fuelled by supernatural powers beyond their control.

The war may be over, but the battle for the throne has only just begun…

Shakespeare’s supernatural thriller is one of the most popular plays of all time. This brand new production is directed by Charlotte Conquest and designed by Neil Irish, who worked together on our last two celebrated winter seasons Romeo & Juliet and Measure for Measure.

It is seven years since GSC last staged MACBETH, and we’re delighted to be back once again in Surrey’s largest Georgian church – Holy Trinity – on Guildford High Street.

This production will be given a contemporary setting, evoking the guerrilla warfare seen in modern conflicts such as those in the Balkans.

MACBETH
8 – 29 February 2020
Holy Trinity Church, Guildford High Street
Evenings 7.30pm | Matinees 2.30pm
https://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/

Comments

  1. Leslie Allard says

    February 12, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    Hello I am contacting you from a “Special Needs” School – (Autism & Asperger’s), Our English department are interested in viewing a production of Macbeth for KS4/5 students – aged 13 – 18 years.

    This would be a group of maximum 18 people including students & adults. Ideally a production on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. From w/c 24th Feb.

    Could you please advise availability and confirm individual costs for Adults & Students.

    • Admin says

      February 12, 2020 at 2:49 pm

      I have forwarded your question to GSC and cc’d you in.

  2. Victor says

    February 12, 2020 at 2:48 pm

    Thanks for such a tantalising and evocative review, Sally. You’ve got my appetite thoroughly whetted for my visit on 14th.

    We’ve seen quite a number of their productions now, and they never fail to deliver stunning and enjoyable theatre.

London Theatre Tickets

ABBA Voyage Tickets
London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2022 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.