• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Edinburgh Fringe 2022
The Tragedy of Macbeth credit Vessi Ven

The Tragedy of Macbeth credit Vessi Ven

Edinburgh Review: The Tragedy of Macbeth at Assembly Roxy

by Bee Parkinson-Cameron
August 23, 2022
Reading Time: 3 mins read

The Tragedy of Macbeth is showing at the Assembly Roxy and is, as the name suggests, a re-telling of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth by Flabbergast Theatre. Macbeth and Banquo find three witches who tell them both that Macbeth will become King of Scotland and Banquo will sire a line of kings. Tragedy ensues for Macbeth and those around him.

First point I would advise is if you are looking to see The Tragedy of Macbeth and have sensory issues, then sitting at the back of the audience would be best as the clay, paint and wine that they use during the course of the production can become quite strong smelling, and the projection of the cast is very good so sitting at the back might be better for those with delicate hearing.

As for the performances, the cast did a good job in creating an animalistic outpouring of both agony and ecstasy, manipulating our interpretation of the text through their emotions. In particular, the emotional range exhibited during the show by Duncan/Macduff was exceptional with multiple levels. At times, the other performances felt a little one note. There was a strong focus on physicality and movement which is what Flabbergast are best at doing, but the text felt as though it were a secondary consideration at times.

       

In between the two acts, The Tragedy of Macbeth employed the use of physical comedy by one of the performers who was irreverent and amusing during his interactions with the audience. However, this section went on a little too long and it began to become laboured.

There are two sections of performance that are worthy of note and those are the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and Banquo’s ghost. The relationship expressed on stage was very physical, sensual with symmetry of movement and later, almost violent, displaying the destructive nature of their marriage. In terms of Macbeth and the haunting of Banquo’s ghost, it is one of the cleverer interpretations I have seen of this on stage. Banquo’s ghost pouring wine into Macbeth’s glass when he is not looking was particularly interesting.

You mightalso like

Edinburgh Festival Fringe producing venues

Soaring Accommodation Costs put future of Edinburgh Fringe at risk say eight major venues

Theatre Weeklys Best of The Fest

Theatre Weekly’s Best of the Fest 2022

In summary, it is clear that Flabbergast paid particular attention to create a highly physical theatrical production, but as an interpretation of the text, this focus on physicality and movement was not always in the favour of The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Bee Parkinson-Cameron

Bee Parkinson-Cameron

Bee is a writer of poetry and plays, author of Snapshots. Bee has written articles for The Poet magazine and is passionate about grassroots projects. Bee's theatrical organisation Left Behind Productions were shortlisted for the voluntary arts epic awards 2019 for their work raising awareness of domestic abuse through theatre. Bee is a proud ambassador for Fife Women's Aid.

Related Articles

Edinburgh Festival Fringe producing venues
Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Soaring Accommodation Costs put future of Edinburgh Fringe at risk say eight major venues

Theatre Weeklys Best of The Fest
Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Theatre Weekly’s Best of the Fest 2022

Black Blues Brothers
Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Edinburgh Review: The Black Blues Brothers at Assembly Rooms

An Evening Without Kate Bush courtesy of the Company
Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Edinburgh Review: An Evening Without Kate Bush at Assembly George Square Gardens

The Idiot Circus credit Melissa Stephens.
Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Edinburgh Review: THE iDiOT CIRCUS: Death Is Coming at Assembly Piccolo

Tom DeTrinis I Hate New York
Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Edinburgh Review: Tom DeTrinis: I Hate New York at Assembly Powder Room

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Meaghan Martin Julie Oli Higginson John Credit Lucy Hayes

Review: Smoke at Southwark Playhouse

Heathers The Musical at The Other Palace credit PamelaRaith

Heathers The Musical Tour Cast Announced

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • Vault Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly