Opening: Macbeth at Royal Exchange
A strikingly contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s gripping tragedy Macbeth launches an exciting new Spring Summer 09 Season at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from tonight until to Saturday 11 April.
Guest director Matthew Dunster stages this edge-of-the-seat story of overarching ambition firmly in the present – kick-starting this thrilling new production with vivid images of three young women brutalised by conflict.
Played out against a back-drop of a war-torn state ripped apart by an invading force and a rebel army, the drama unfolds as a triumphant Macbeth discovers he is destined to become the next King of Scotland. As power is snatched and a state of emergency ensues, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth risk their own souls in a desperate attempt to gain the whole world.
Nicholas Gleaves – (pictured, right) who plays Macbeth – was last seen at the Royal Exchange in On The Shore Of The Wide World (which also transferred to the National Theatre). His other theatre credits include Hindle Wakes and Don Carlos for the Exchange and Sam Mendes’ production of The Front Page at the Donmar Warehouse.
Hilary Maclean – who plays Lady Macbeth – has previously been seen at the Royal Exchange in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The cast also includes Jason Done, Chris Colquhoun, Rebecca Callard, Niamh Quinn, Robert Gwilym, John MacMillan, Matthew Randell, Chinna Wodu, Heather Peace, John Stahl, Vincent Bernard, Leigh Symonds, Ann Crump Raiswell, Shannon Flynn, Alexandra Kenyon, Tom Glynn-Whitehead and Jake Richardson.
Oldham-born actor, director and playwright Dunster was most recently at the Exchange to direct his own play You Can See The Hills in The Studio. The production won a Manchester Evening News Best Studio Actor Award for its solo performer Will Ash and also had a sell out transfer run at London’s Young Vic (the production is to receive another run at the Young Vic in the summer). Other Exchange directing credits include Love and Money (which also transferred to the Young Vic). His acclaimed production of The Frontline returns to London’s Globe Theatre in May where he also takes the helm for a new production of Troilus and Cressida later in the year.
The production is designed by Paul Wills whose other RET credits include the theatre’s hugely popular Christmas show See How They Run. The creative team is completed by Philip Gladwell (lighting), Ian Dickinson (sound) and Kevin McCurdy (fight director).