This candlelit production of Macbeth was performed within the cockpit theatre at Shakespeare North Playhouse, directed by Ben Crystal and produced by Siobhan Noble it created a very special experience for its audience. Macbeth is a dark brooding, haunting, thrilling play, about a brave Scottish general and his lady, who turns into a brutal tyrant to those around him or who get in his way.
It contains daggers, the prophecy of the three sisters, murder plots, assassins, spirits, a ghostly banquet, paranoia and hallucinations, a Scottish King and Queen, and ghastly murders.
The performance begins with a dim spookily lit stage casting shadows and three witches (called weird sisters throughout) all dressed in black, chanting and lighting candles in the candelabras to an eerie sound played by a solo cellist. Within the first scene those famous words, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” which sets the theme of confusion between good and evil that runs throughout and “Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble” are spoken as the witches brew their mix of toxic potion designed to drug and hallucinate it’s intended.
Throughout the performance the solo cellist must be given credit (Semay Wu musician) as she constantly moved slowly around the auditorium whilst gently plucking and occasionally humming in parts to create a hauntingly mysterious and clever simplistic and most effective atmosphere to compliment the overall dramatic effect the characters portrayed throughout the story.
Each character commanded the stage, with some actors playing multiple roles, and used Shakespeare’s spoken word in monologue style to brilliant effect; the acting was superb and authentic. All the characters were dressed in black throughout except in one scene towards the end where Lady Macbeth appears in white to signify purity, before she asks the dark spirits to strip away her feminine qualities so that she can commit murder. Credit must be given to Mark Bailey Costume Designer and the costume makers for creating a realistic coherent collection of costumes.
Each actor held a lit candle in a holder up to their faces as they spoke to illuminate their face and created impact and intensity, and when not speaking they turned them away from their faces to create darkness and shadows and intrigue. Above the stage Macbeth – Shakespeare North Playhouse over 50 candles adorned the candelabras which were lowered up and down for different scenes during the play creating the perfect ambiance.
The overall performance was a total spellbindingly enthralling experience, and I have not experienced anything like it before. The audience clapped for what seemed an absolute age in appreciation.
Creative Team
Director, Curator & Co-Facilitator: Ben Crystal
Associate Director & Co-Facilitator: Andrew Codispoti
Company Stage Manager : Rae Woods
Designer and Costumes: Mark Bailey
Musician: Semay Wu (live improvised music)
Ensemble Cast (10 Storytellers)
Devon Anderson -Banquo, Duncan’s general
Kate Benfield – Lennox, Lady Macbeth’s servant
Cranks – King Duncan
Ben Crystal -Macbeth, Duncan’s General
Jen Hardy – Lady Macduff
Megs Kumari – Lady Macbeth
Macsen McKay – Rosse, the Kings Royal Advisor
Callum Sim – Malcolm, Duncan’s son
Janelle Thompson -Macduff, Duncan’s General
The autumn 2026 candlelit production of Macbeth at Shakespeare North Playhouse
runs from September 11th to October 3rd, 2026, directed by Ben Crystal
https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on
Reviewer: Jill Ollerton
On: 16/09/26
