It can sometimes seem as if professional theatre companies are in a kind of constant competition to see who can do the most outlandish adaptation yet of the bard’s best- known works, often throwing so many varied ideas into the mix that there is no overarching consistency in the end product. This in-house production of ‘Macbeth’ certainly had its fair share of new takes on the Scottish Play yet still managed to remain recognisably faithful to Shakespeare’s famous work.
The production certainly utilised technology to the upmost with a variety of video screens and projections onto walls creatively used with liberal helping of suitably atmospheric music and powerful sound effects. The Storyhouse was changed from its usual proscenium-arch format with a generous performance area jutting out into the audience giving a feel of theatre in the thrust whilst the back of the stage housed some remarkably varied sets, including a fully-equipped en-suite bathroom. This enabled multi-level scenes to interspersed with action on the main stage, giving a very dynamic feel to the overall production. The combined use of lights, sounds and music together with other effects was something to behold and with a total cast of eighteen, this was a big show.
The costuming was very consistently very modern although interestingly, the weaponry was all faithful to the original setting, comprising of medieval-style swords, daggers and even a battle axe. This combination worked but what was curious was that the costuming, the sets and even multiple overhead strip lights were all linked by an overriding colour scheme based around lime green & turquoise and violets and pinks. This extended to fluorescent lighting surrounding the back stage sets and even the bathroom was all finished in a pleasant shade of lime green, with other rooms painted in violet. There was however a nod to the Scottish setting, with some of the men dressed in kilts (with authentic tartans that were neither violet nor lime green) and several other costumes having Scottish-style chequered patterns.
The cast was nicely balanced between experienced professionals and young trainees, displaying part of the ambit of the Storyhouse which is to develop new talent. Unlike certain other professional companies, it was pleasing to hear all the cast deliver most lines in a clear measured manner as opposed to demonstrating how fast they could reel off Shakespearian dialogue (which is becoming all too common). Coupled with two rolling dialogue screens, this really helped make the play accessible to those who had not studied Shakespeare. Credit to Robin Morrisey for his powerful portrayal of Macbeth and Yolanda Ovide’s for her dominating Lady Macbeth; both actors convincingly brought over the emotional journeys their respective characters each travelled.
There were several creative elements in the sets, although at times the play became almost surreal with the witches’ steaming cauldron being a flip-lip, municipal waste receptacle (in lime green, naturally) and you actually saw a man brutally murdered by a teddy bear, savagely aided and abetted by two horses! An additional touch, which was quite dramatic, was that at various key drama points throughout the show, important lines (or sometime just single words) were projected in huge letters across the back screen, giving a tabloid headline effect.
This was a very satisfying production of Macbeth in the which artistic vision was consistent, giving a very modern feel to the setting which remaining grounded in the original Shakespearian text.
‘Macbeth’ runs at Storyhouse until the 21st March. See https://storyhouse.com
Reviewer - John Waterhouse
On - 12th March 2026
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