Nottingham Shakespeare Company is to tour a new production of Macbeth, with director Michelle-Louise Wright aiming to make the two central characters more human than they are normally portrayed.
Jack Dillon will play Macbeth and Emma Webber will be his wife. Wright said, “I wanted very much for the Macbeths to be sympathetic characters. I wanted actors who seemed to have a vulnerability and an internal kind of joy, which I think both Emma and Jack absolutely bring to the characters.
“Emma and Jack are brilliant and right from the auditions showed a playful joy and bubbling chemistry between them. When we were talking and developing the relationship between the Macbeths, we wanted it to be fun; we wanted them to enjoy each other’s company and for them to be madly in love.
“Emma is particularly wonderful at playing Lady Macbeth as very fragile and is ultimately entirely believable when we watch her slowly fall to pieces once Macbeth is removed and distanced from her. She needed his protection; she needed his solidity, his bravery and his love.”
Wright added, “the real-life prevalence of domestic violence in soldiers suffering from PTSD when they and their families don't have the right support is heartbreaking, so I wanted that to be part of Macbeth’s story. Ultimately, it’s when Macbeth is responsible for the death of women and children we feel he’s gone over an uncrossable line, especially now because he's doing it for himself and not under orders. One bad decision for the Macbeths has unleashed something uncontrollable and, in our production, although you might not excuse their actions, perhaps you might understand them.”
The rest of the cast comprises Margarita Loginova (first witch and Lady Macduff), Querida Louyindoula (second witch and gentlewoman), Andy Canadine (third witch, bloody sergeant, murderer and doctor), Leon Cain (Duncan and Macduff), Francesca Short (Malcolm and murderer), Tom Salyers (Banquo and Seyton), Jess Evans (Ross) and Michelle-Louise Wright (porter).
Music is by sound director Leon Cain, fight director is Conor Lynam while Mackenzie Toner looks after lighting and is stage manager. Assistant stage manager Matt Corden is on sound.
Nottingham Shakespeare Company will tour Macbeth to All Saints Church, Loughborough on Wednesday 19 February, Beeston Parish Church, Nottinghamshire on Thursday 20 February, St John’s Church, Carrington, Nottingham on Friday 21 February, Leicester Cathedral on Saturday 22 February, St Peter’s Church, Nottingham on Wednesday 26 February, St Giles’ Church, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire on Thursday 27 February, Ruddington Methodist Church, Nottinghamshire on Friday 28 February and St Nicholas’ Church, Nottingham on Saturday 1 March.