Story by: Mayumi Ihara-Quinones and Rebecca Hyman (Yr 11) Website editor: Miriam Fine (Yr 12)
Following some of Yr 11s study of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the English department took 11B and 11C to see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s critically acclaimed version of the play at the Gielgud Theatre, London.
Although Macbeth is the shortest of Shakespeare’s works, the performance was three hours long with the director, Rupert Goold, adding a modern twist to the medieval tale, changing the story’s location to totalitarian Russia.
Patrick Stuart, most widely recognised for his role as Xavier in the X-Men trilogy, gave a convincing performance portraying Macbeth, the protagonist of one of Shakespeare's most bloody and fear-filled tragedies. Other notable performances were given by Kate Fleetwood, whose accurate portrayal of Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness intrigued and disturbed the audience. The omnipresent Weird Sisters, veiled as benevolent nurses, brought a sense of foreboding to the already tense atmosphere. This was complimented by slick scene transitions, apt musical score and succinct special effects.
This fresh new take on Shakespeare’s classic play of ambition and corruption is not to be missed.