Proteus Theatre present
Macbeth
UK Tour: October – November 2019
Embarking on a UK tour following its successful run in London and Basingstoke, award-winning Proteus’ adaptation of Macbeth takes Shakespeare’s macabre tragedy to the tumult of the trading room floor. Directed by Mary Swan, the artistic director, this Macbeth is a gripping corporate thriller set in London during the stock market crash of 1987.
A Great Storm, a Black Monday, a market crash that reverberates across the world – Proteus’ Macbeth is suffused with decadence and aggression as a tormented soul finds the noose of bravado begin to tighten. With an electrifying soundtrack of eighties classics, Proteus have worked closely with Ad Infinitum’s George Mann to create a highly physical interpretation of a classic.
The production joins the ‘greed is good’ corporate landscape where success is all and ruthless ambition is rewarded. The only problem is, how do you control it before it consumes you and your family? Exploring the pressures of race, class and identity, sudden betrayal and even more sudden violence shake a society to its core.
Leading the production, Hassan Maarfi (The Left Behind, BBC; Playing with Shakespeare, Theatre Royal Shakespeare) will appear as Macbeth joined by Kudzanayi Chiwawa (The Importance of Being Earnest, Tara Theatre; One Hundred Trillion, Southwark Playhouse) as Lady Macbeth. Also joining the cast are Adrian Decosta (Nation, National Theatre; The Taming of the Shrew, RSC), Jessica Andrade (Around the World in 80 Days, UK tour; The Brownie Club, Jacksons Lane) and Adam Buksh (Scot Squad, BBC; How to Make a Killing in Bollywood, UK tour).
Director Mary Swan comments, It’s really exciting to be able to bring our interpretation of Macbeth to a brand new audience on this tour; with an almost completely new, young cast of incredibly talented actors of colour. Shakespeare’s tragedy of a man corrupted by a lust for power, leading him to believe he can act above the law, has never been so timely. The show is even more fast–paced and physical than before, and with the 80s revival in full swing, this will be a truly unique take on the play.
Set to the backdrop of London in 1987, this rendition of Shakespeare’s writing does not shy away from the struggles and violent plot of the original text, rather it brings a new perspective on the tale (Basingstoke Gazette).
Performance Dates
15th – 16th October Luton Library Theatre, lutonculture.com
Luton Central Library, St George’s Square, Luton, LU1 2NG
17th October Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, norden.farm
Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF
19th October Trinity Arts Centre, www.trinitybristol.org.uk
Trinity Road, Bristol, BS2 0NW
21st October Brewhouse, thebrewhouse.net
Coal Orchard, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JL
23rd October Hanger Farm Arts Centre, hangerfarm.co.uk
Aikman Lane, Totton, Southampton, SO40 8FT
24th October Farnham Maltings, farnhammaltings.com
Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR
28th – 29th October Theatre Royal, theatreroyal.org
Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1QR
6th November The Auden Theatre, www.audentheatre.co.uk
Gresham’s School, Cromer Road, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6EA
8th – 9th November Connaught Theatre, www.worthingtheatres.co.uk
Union Place, Worthing, BN11 1LG