Jim Bywater

I went to see Bob Carlton's MacBeth at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch last night (Monday 20th March). It was set in a drug dealing, gangland world which, in my opinion, highlighted the cut-throat world of the mediaeval times in the original play. No show of nobility, apart from a smattering from Banquo. What a liberation for the actor - the freedom to play with the visceral, violent, sentimental, paranoid, scheming qualities in the characters; to feel the pressures that push them 'over the edge'.
The witches, part of the drug culture - dealers and users - use their drugs to produce Mac's visions towards the end of the play. Minimal music, guitar, violin and drums, provided atmosphere. I liked the set, too - minimal black, grey and white - austere yet grand. But, the pleasure with a production such as this, proving the quality of the writing - if proof were necessary - is that the language sits happily in the setting and is also liberated from the shackles of the 'Shakespearian performance' without having to sacrifice the pulse. Nice one, Bob.