Macbeth

Presented in association with the International Shakespeare Festival Craiova and Pieter Toerien

Playwright: William Shakespeare

Direction, Set & Lighting Design: Fred Abrahamse

Costume & Puppetry Design & Construction: Marcel Meyer & Fred Abrahamse

Soundscape: Charl-Johan Lingenfelder

Photography: Fiona MacPherson & Pat Bromilow-Downing

Cast: Marcel Meyer, Stephen Jubber, Tristan De Beer [Romania & Johannesburg], David Viviers [Cape Town], Taylin Ramsamy, Matthew Baldwin, Jeremy Richard

Venues & Dates: The International Shakespeare Festival, Craiova, Romania [April 201], Teatrul Nottara, Bucharest [ April 2018] Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, Johannesburg [August/September 2018], Theatre on The Bay, Cape Town [May/June 2019]

About: A six actor staging of Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy. Macbeth is filled with imagery of eating, feasting and hospitality. A major inspiration which this production has visualised by setting the action entirely around, on top and below a large black banqueting table.

What the Press said:

“Ingenious design, superb performance, evocative imaging, mask, puppet-work and clowning creates an explosive and hyper inspired Macbeth. I staggered out of the theatre; reeling. This is unlike any Macbeth that I have seen…The direction of Fred Abrahamse is masterful…the entire company is on top form…Meyer as Macbeth brilliantly teases out the intricacies of this flawed man…Don’t miss this breath-taking production” THE CAPE ROBYN

“I have seen Macbeth performed many times as well as in Stratford. By comparison, this is one of the darkest and also most edgy and contemporary iterations I’ve ever seen.” CAPE ARGUS

“Superb…Masterful… true to the original text yet reimagined ingeniously for a new audience…the all-male cast of six whip in and out of multiple characters each, which is one of the trademarks of Abrahamse and Meyer’s work” CITY PRESS

“The acting impresses. Marcel Meyer excellently conveys Macbeth’s hellish journey through his all-consuming ambition and conscience.” RAPPORT

“a thrilling, complex show…mesmerising… it’s edge-of-your seat stuff…riveting” THE DAILY MAVERICK

“Sheer genius…chilling…an awe-inspiring production of one of the great plays, performed with simplicity, style and complete professionalism.” ARTSLINK

NALEDI THEATRE AWARDS:

Best Costume Design – Fred Abrahamse & Marcel Meyer [win]

Best Production of a Play [nomination]

Best Actor – Marcel Meyer as Macbeth [nomination]

Best Supporting Actor – Tristan De Beer as Lady Macbeth [nomination]

Best Supporting Actor – Jeremy Richard as The Porter [nomination]

Best Lighting Design – Fred Abrahamse [nomination]

Best Original Score – Charl-Johan Lingenfelder [nomination]

Best Ensemble – The cast of Macbeth [nomination]

FLEUR DU CAP THEATRE AWARDS

Best Actor – David Viviers as Lady Macbeth [nomination]

Best Puppetry Design – Fred Abrahamse & Marcel Meyer [nomination]