Hull Truck Theatre – until 28th February 2026
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
Hull Truck Theatre, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Derby Theatre present Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare and Directed by Mark Babych.
I have seen ballets adapted from Shakespeare’s plays, quite a lot of actors performing parts of his plays and The Royal Shakespeare Company but until yesterday I hadn’t seen a full play and what a brilliant one to start with.
The set (designed by Rachael Canning) really set the tone of this production. It was dark and industrial looking with broken windows, metal stairways and landings and along with the sounds (designed by Annie May Fletcher) including gunfire and the lighting (designed by Sally Ferguson) it really added to the dark and depressing tone of the play. A lot of the costumes (designed by Rachael Canning) were modern dress as well as Army uniforms and the fabulous costumes for the three witches.
The play starts with the three witches (Livie Dalee, Josie Morley and Deb Pugh) whose prophesy say that Macbeth (Oliver Alvin-Wilson) will be King of Scotland so he murders the then King, Duncan (Colin Hurley). so that Banquo’s (Daniel Poyser) descendants will, as also prophesied, will reign. Lady Macbeth (Jo Mousley)) manipulates her husband to get the power that she thinks they deserve by persuading him to murder Banquo. Ultimately Lady Mcbeths guilt overtakes her and she descends into madness. Macduff’s cousin Ross (Benjamin Wilson) delivers the news to Macbeth and changing his loyalty from King Duncan to Macbeth and then to the rebellion.
King Duncans heir, Malcolm (Cayvan Coates) after fleeing to England after his father’s murder, returns to Scotland with an Army to overthrow Macbeth. But as the story descends into violence and horror Macbeth gets his comeuppance at the hands of Macduff (Simon Trinder).
Macbeth (Oliver Alvin-Wilson) played the character with sensitivity and with more than a hint of menace and unpredictability and he commanded the stage.
And I must mention the actors from the young company who played the parts of Fleance and Young Macduff.
I think a lot of modern-day life could be seen played out in Macbeth, an ambitious man looking to stop anyone who gets in his way by any means possible. Putting on a front and trying to prove that everything is alright when everything around him is actually falling into disarray.
This was a thought-provoking production, brilliantly acted by all the cast who a brought the story of Macbeth alive.