Described as Succession meets Fleabag, a contemporary new production of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth takes to the Oxford stage.
English Touring Theatre returns to the Oxford Playhouse with its latest production from Tuesday March 12th, until Saturday March 16th.
This story opens as a struggling and divided nation, tearing itself apart. So, when the Macbeths see their chance at the crown, why shouldn’t they take it?
But things don’t go according to plan. Dreams quickly turn to nightmares, humanity erodes, nature stirs. As society strives to make sense of the darkness that sits inside it, how long will it take for people to fight back against the endless cycle of violence and corruption?
Described as “Succession meets Fleabag”, this production confronts why Shakespeare’s Macbeth has haunted our fears and nightmares for centuries and questions what lesson this cautionary tale is still urgently trying to communicate.
Mike Noble joins the cast as Macbeth, he is best known for starring in Mike Bartlett’s Game at Almeida Theatre; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Port (National Theatre), and Headlong’s Corrina, Corrina.
Laura Elsworthy plays Lady Macbeth. Her theatre credits include Headlong’s Corrina Corrina, Romeo & Juliet, The Last Testament Of Lillian Bilocca, The Kitchen Sink and Spacewang (Hull Truck), The Taming Of The Shrew, As You Like It, Miss Littlewood and The Fantastic Follies Of Mrs Rich (RSC).
Joining the cast for the production’s run at The Playhouse are Oxfordshire-based child actors Bethany Tubb and May Hales. Training at The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, Bethany studies Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & Television. South Oxfordshire-based May attends Abingdon Stagecoach and is a recent recipient of the Kay Dash Challenge Cup for Solo Acting and gold medallist for Sight Reading at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts 2023.
The cast also includes Hanora Kamen as Lennox; Hayley Konadu as Malcolm; Brian Lonsdale as Banquo; Guy Rhys as Macduff; Coral Sinclair as Lady Macduff; Ross Waiton as Duncan and Leo Wan as Ross.
Macbeth is a co-production between English Touring Theatre (ETT), Shakespeare North Playhouse, Northern Stage and Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, in Association with Bristol Old Vic, and is directed by Richard Twyman.
ETT returns to The Playhouse after the success of I, Daniel Blake in October 2023.
Tickets for Macbeth at Oxford Playhouse start from £14 and are available from Box Office: 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com.
What is the traditional story of Macbeth
The traditional story of Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It follows the character Macbeth, a Scottish general, who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become the King of Scotland. Encouraged by his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan to take the throne.
However, Macbeth’s guilt and paranoia lead him to commit more murders in order to secure his power. As the story unfolds, Macbeth’s tyranny and descent into madness ultimately lead to his downfall. The play explores themes of ambition, power, guilt, and fate.
