MACBETH
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Tues 19-Sat 23 Mar
The genius of Shakespeare, of course, is that in the 400-odd years since his plays were written, whenever or wherever they are performed, they tell us more about the times in which we live than they ever do about Elizabethan England. Macbeth is a tale of greed, paranoia and over-vaulting ambition set in a country riven by division, confusion and doubt. Umm, sound familiar? Indeed, this touring National Theatre production is set in “a post-apocalyptic world of anarchy and uncertainty”, which sounds like a walk in the park compared to Brexit Britain frankly.
The fact the action takes place in the wake of a civil war could well give proceedings at the WMC the feeling of Newsnight rather than a piece of classic drama. Macbeth is a play that seems to embody many of the themes Shakespeare consistently found himself returning to throughout his work: human frailty, greed, the capacity for violence (in man and woman) and the comedy to be found even in the most desperate of situations. This production began life via a sold-out run on London’s South Bank under the direction of National Theatre artistic director, Rufus Norris, and is designed by Rae Smith, fresh from the NT’s blockbuster production of War Horse.
In London, Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff played the murderous Macbeths, but for this 18-venue tour of the UK and Ireland, which concludes in the Welsh capital, Scottish actor Michael Nardone, best known for playing Frisky in the BBC’s much-heralded The Night Manager, fleshes out the man who would be king whilst experienced stage actor, Kirsty Besterman, takes on the challenge of Lady Macbeth.
If reviews for the London production were mixed to say the least, this touring production has fared better at the hands of the critics. Audiences can expect a dark uncomfortable evening, but it could all come as a welcome break from the madness currently masquerading as ‘real’ life in these isles. Expect torrential rain, gallons of blood, plenty of tears and a special guest appearance from Nigel Farage. Possibly.
Tickets: £10-£43. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk
words Steve Tucker