Macbeth

by William Shakespeare

directed by Ken Hann

Performed to Full Houses at the

Nuffield Theatre

on

Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th January 2003

Ken Hann, the director wrote:

The themes of ambition, greed, power, corruption, murder and retribution, seeming as relevant to us now as they were in the seventeenth century, have attracted so many people, myself included, to direct Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece.

We took as our central theme "equivocation" discussed by the Porter making his way to open the castle gates. The play is full of ambiguity. There are many instances in the text, for example "The battle's lost and won" and "So foul and fair a day". The characters themselves are not what they seem. Macbeth, who kills without a thought in battle, finds it very difficult to dispatch Duncan. Lady Macbeth, so strong and resolute, very quickly crumbles after the deed. Duncan himself, this wise and revered king is willing to risk his kingdom by telling his lords that his son will succeed him. This was not the normal route to succession in eleventh century Scotland!

The more I read it the more I felt that all the main characters, those who could influence history, were scrabbling over each other, in a most unseemly way, to reach the top of the heap. Shadows of twenty-first century politics here? This led me to a vision of rats fighting each other in dirt and filth. John Hamon, the designer, brilliantly turned that idea into a set constructed entirely of other people's cast offs, thus connecting the ideas of a rubbish tip and things appearing to be other than what they seem. The music was specially composed and costumes designed to echo that theme.

Back in November we began a journey of exploration that led us to look deeply both into the text and the history bringing to the stage fresh ideas which celebrate Shakespeare's brilliance as a playwright.

Cast (in order of appearance)
Witches Hazel Burrows, Jo Young, Ruth Kibble
Duncan John Souter
Malcolm Steven Tizzard
Donaldbain Jez Minns
Lennox Ian Morley
Macduff Alec Walters
Captain Albie Minns
Ross Harry Tuffill
Macbeth Matt Avery
Banquo Philip de Grouchy
Lady Macbeth Belinda Drew
Seyton Carl Dunnington
Fleance Hannah Stansbridge
Porter Graham Buchanan
Old Man David Pike
Murderers Jez Minns, Ron Randall
Lady Macduff Angie Stansbridge
Macduff's Daughter Hannah Stansbridge
Gentlewoman Shona Lupton
Doctor David Jupp
Messenger Jez Minns

For the Maskers
Director Ken Hann
Production Manager Graham Buchanan
Stage Manager Angie Barks
Lighting Design Clive Weeks
Lighting Operation Clive Weeks, Nathan Weeks
Sound Lawrie Gee
Properties Ella Lockett, Gill Buchanan
Armourer Graham Buchanan
Fight Arranger Kate Waters
Costume Design Serena Brown
Set Design John Hamon
Set Construction John Hamon, David Jupp
Marketing & Publicity Jan Ward, Angela Stansbridge, Sandy White, Alison Ayres
Photography Clive Weeks
Logo & Programme Design John Hamon
Music Composer Chris Hann
Front of House Coordinator Julia Jupp
Rehearsal Assistant Alan Watson
The Stage Crew
Martin Clift Joe Diggins
Richard Hackett Helen White
Emma Carrington Emma Hobby
Steve Drudge Roger Lockett


 

click on a photo to enlarge it

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John Hamon and David Jupp finishing off the set
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Shirley's own LOCAL theatre!

Maskers Theatre Company
Off Emsworth Road
Shirley
Southampton
SO15 3LX

Registered Charity 900067

Established 1968

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