From the
outset, it should be made clear that Creation Theatre’s Macbeth, adapted and
directed by Jonathan Holloway, is not a ‘literal rendering’ of the text. In the
programme notes, it specifically states that the production ‘re-imagines the
play’ and crosses the line ‘between reality and imagination’.
The ‘stage’
is Lady Margaret Hall and its grounds. It is without doubt a striking backdrop.
On the other hand, it occasionally overwhelmed. As such a large ‘space’, it
took a while to concentrate the senses.
From my
position, as a guest at the banquet, with other audience members, I found
myself looking centre stage, towards the sound, only to turn right and see
Laura Murray’s Lady Macbeth at a first floor window of the college. It was
quite unsettling at first.
Nevertheless,
as dusk fell, this no longer became an issue as the lighting directed us to the
action. It achieved the sinister and ghostly elements that were lacking in the
earlier scenes. With the production running until September, and the nights
closing in, future audiences will be amply rewarded.
If there is
to be a ‘star’ of the show, it has to be Ashley Bale’s seductive and ethereal lighting
design. It both intensified and complemented the drama, sometimes touching,
sometimes disturbing.
Finally, if
you are going, do not expect to see ‘weird sisters, hand in hand’, cackling
over a bubbling cauldron but something more theatrically and creatively
inspired and more importantly, accessible. To some it may be disquieting, to
others, exciting and innovative.
This review
was first published on The Flaneur website.
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