Gleefully revelling in their polyester costumes, dodgy ruffs and inflatable guitars, the cast take on one of the Bard’s best-known plays to deliver a high octane, gloriously low-budget performance. This manically energetic musical makes a strong case that what Macbeth really needs, to liven it up, is some banging pop anthems and jaunty dance routines.
Scottish chest-bumping bros Macbeth and Banquo are heading back from battle, when they encounter three witches who make predictions about the future; cue everyone launching into a song set to B*Witched’s C’est la vie, which thoroughly sets the tone for what’s to come. Lady Macbeth then encourages her husband to fulfil the prophesy and he goes on a heavily choreographed killing spree, starting with King Duncan. From here the plot is squeezed into a fast-paced performance helped along with music by Journey, Queen and Rag ‘N Bone Man – amongst many more.
It’s all very tongue-in-cheek but the lyrics are thoroughly enjoyable, with Macbeth crooning ‘I sometimes wish I’d never seen a witch at all’ to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody and Banquo’s ghost singing ‘I get killed off but I’m back again’ to Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping. The performers are clearly all having a brilliant time, with Macbeth played as psychotically upbeat and a hilarious Banquo arguably stealing the show.
Of course our most notable playwright is most celebrated for the way he uses language, and not much of the original source material makes the cut – which will be a sticking-point for some. But this is not the show for anyone who might be put off by a lack of reverence. It’s Shakespeare meets the Spice Girls – not exactly a performance that delves into the human condition, but it’s a lot of fun.