This summer, a heady brew of greed, murder and dark magic comes to London’s incomparably atmospheric Temple Church in a bold new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Award-winning Antic Disposition return to Temple Church following sold out, critically acclaimed runs of Romeo and Juliet in 2014, Henry V in 2015 and Richard III in 2017
Inspired by supernatural promises, a powerful nobleman and his ambitious wife carve a bloody path to the throne of Scotland. But, as the true horror of their crimes begins to be revealed, both the realm and its rulers are plunged into madness.
Located in the secluded heart of London’s legal quarter, Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century and is one of London’s most beautiful and historic buildings. Perhaps best known for its unusual round form and stone effigies of medieval knights, Temple Church became famous more recently as a key location in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
Leading a cast of ten talented actors, Harry Anton (Mary Stuart, Almeida; Hedda Gabler, National Theatre; Through the Mill, Southwark Playhouse) and Helen Millar (winner of the Alan Bates Award for most outstanding newcomer) take on the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Completing the cast are Robert Bradley, Peter Collis, Chris Courtenay, Nathan Hamilton, Andrew Hislop, Robyn Holdaway, Bryony Tebbutt and Louise Templeton.
Directors Ben Horslen and John Risebero comment, The extraordinarily atmospheric Temple Church is the perfect setting for a play that combines royal grandeur with supernatural intensity. Bringing Macbeth to the stage is one of the most exciting challenges we’ve faced as a company, and we cannot wait for audiences to experience this thrilling site-specific production in one of London’s hidden treasures.
Peter Brook Award-winning Antic Disposition, founded by director Ben Horslen and director/designer John Risebero, is best known for presenting innovative, visually striking productions of classic plays and stories in spectacular historic buildings. Recent productions include The Comedy of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing in Gray’s Inn Hall; A Christmas Carol in Middle Temple Hall, which returns for a fifth season this December; and Henry V, which recently toured twenty of the UK’s finest cathedrals marking the centenary of the First World War and Shakespeare400.
Macbeth is at Temple Church 20th August to 7th September 2019.
