Macbeth
Liverpool Playhouse
Double, Double, toil and….yakuza?
The Scottish play is possibly one of Shakespeare’s best known tragedies, telling the tale of Macbeth’s rise to power and his attempts to retain that power against a backdrop of murder. This production of Macbeth by Imitating The Dog was unlike any other production we have ever seen, and completely modernises the play in a way that Baz Luhrmann did for Romeo and Juliet in the 90’s.
Transporting the play to Estuary City, a gritty neon world that invokes images of London and Tokyo, this version of Macbeth incorporates video technology, modern language and a violent noir backdrop to stunning effect. Throughout the production, two cameras capture Macbeth and Lady Macbeth on the stage. These images appear on screens above the stage, and in combination with the sectional staging give individual perspectives of the action on stage. With background films projected onto the staging, Imitating The Dog have created a cinematic masterpiece within a live theatre environment. Our favourite example of this was Lady Macbeth riding a subway train to meet Macbeth. The camera focussed on each of them individually to set them apart on stage whilst being only metres away from each other, whilst also delivering the feeling of motion through the subway train; incredibly creative and effective.
There are only five people within this cast, which helps to give a more intimate feel to proceedings. Benjamin Westerby as Macbeth and Maia Tamrakar as Lady Macbeth are outstanding. Their portrayal of the Macbeths as young adults, institutionalised to a world of violence, is totally captivating. Both of their performances showed the vulnerability of each character alongside the determination that they will come out on top no matter the cost.
The ensemble cast of Laura Atherton, Stefan Chanyaem, and Matt Prendergast were also fantastic. When not involved in the action on the stage playing the other characters, they were responsible for the cameras and set movements which is no small task in such an elaborate production. As a trio, they came together to play the part of The Witches. Most productions of Macbeth struggle with the concept of what to do with The Witches, something that The Witches within this production are even self-aware of. Imitating The Dog turned them into 4th wall breaking storytellers, acting as narrators but also as audience guides to the inner thoughts of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Rather than be a problem, The Witches in this production were a fantastic addition.
This is a fast-paced, thrilling, production that was completely mesmerising. The techniques used perfectly enhanced the skill of the cast, allowed the audience the opportunity to see some highly nuanced acting, and the Yakuza / neon noir style setting perfectly modernised the play. This production is not to be missed.
Macbeth is currently touring the UK. More details can be found on the Imitating The Dog website.
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