Directed by Stephen Lee
CAST:
Dan Luxton
Angelique Malcolm
David Meadows
Stephen Lee
James Davies
Ian Bolgia
Olivia Hogan
|
|
MACBETH was presented in 2008 at The Subiaco Arts Centre, Western
Australia and (June 24 to 28) also at the Weld Theatre in Busselton,
The Don Russell PAC and the Kwinana Arts Centre.
Macbeth – Class Act & Bare Naked Theatre Companies
Shakespeare’s powerful tragedy was presented at the Subiaco
Arts Centre main stage in authentic period costume.
Stephen Lee
was particularly keen to direct Macbeth as he feels that the simpler
staging that touring requires adds to the power
and impact of the play: “Directors can easily be led into
beefing up the “eye candy”: the might and magic of
the Witches. Even just a few years after it was first acted, writers
were paid to add songs and flying sequences to the play. Yet this
distorts Shakespeare’s aim, so far as I can see. This is
one of his most condensed and emotive plays. I have stripped away
the spectacle and made the witches far more human, with power to
seduce rather than coerce. This shifts the plays emphasis to where
it rightly belongs: the story of an essentially good couple, tempted
by the lure of power into treachery and murder. She closes her
eyes to her deeds and eventually falls into madness; he accepts
what he has to do and is slowly hardened into a psychopath.”
The West Australian Review highlights:
Thu 26 June 208
Karen Marais
“
The audience, made up of largely students, remained engaged throughout – a
testimony to the success of the performance. It deserves a wider
audience.”
“Director Stephen Lee uses traditional period costumes,
with skillfully choreographed swashbuckling sword fights, but minimal
sets and special effects to maximize the stark impact of the play.”
“Angelique Malcolm offers strong performance as Lady
Macbeth.”
“The play features a strong ensemble cast but special mention
needs to be made of Dan Luxton’s powerful portrayal of Macduff.”
“Lee treats the audience to wonderful, versatile cameo
roles.”
“Meadows’ restrained performance…may offer
a more realistic version of the true nature of ambitious tyrants.”
