Maskers Theatre Company, Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
This inventive production transports Shakespeare's masterpiece from the Scottish moors to an urban Mad-Max style scrapheap.
John Hamon's impressively detailed set works well with the bag-lady witches but later fails to complement the fluctuations between good and evil that are at the core of any tragedy. We need to be shown that both Duncan and Macbeth start as the good guys.
The music, specially composed by Chris Hann is a real strength - evocative and eerie.
A mostly confident cast worked hard at this demanding drama and were most successful when real passion was achieved. The reunion between Lady Macbeth (Belinda Drew) and her war hero Macbeth (Matt Avery) had real spark. Lady Macbeth's mad scene was also played powerfully with a splendid cameo from David Jupp as the doctor.
An interesting concept but if characters start at the bottom of a scrapheap, then how can they sink? Runs until January 18.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article