Adam Best stars in a new UK and US tour of Zinnie Harris’s acclaimed play Macbeth (an undoing). This new adaptation of the Scottish play makes its London premiere at the Rose on 8 March where it runs through 23 March with Press Night on 12 March, then moves to New York (5 April to 4 May) and Edinburgh (14 to 25 May), where it originally premiered at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in February 2023.
The full cast includes Nicole Cooper (Lady Macbeth), reprising her ‘deep, rich, and fascinating performance’ (The Scotsman), Adam Best (Macbeth), Emmanuella Cole (Lady Macduff/Mae) Liz Kettle (Carlin), Thierry Mabonga (Macduff/Doctor), Marc Mackinnon (Duncan/Murderer 2), Taqi Nazeer (Bloody Soldier/Lennox), Star Penders (Missy/Malcolm), James Robinson (Banquo), and Laurie Scott (Ross/Murder 1).
Harris’s retelling of the classic Scottish play puts the iconic Lady Macbeth at the heart of the story. When her husband returns victorious from the battlefield with a prophecy that he is to become King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth will stop at nothing to make their darkest ambition a reality. By putting her front and centre, it begs the question – have we really heard the whole story?
You’re starring in Macbeth (an undoing) what can you tell us about this play?
It’s a play that Zinnie has written to see what might happen if, amongst other things, Lady Macbeth’s husband stays on the track he appears to be taking when he sees Banquo’s ghost after he is crowned, and what track Lady Macbeth might take off the back of that.
Banquo’s reappearance as a ghost is something of a “hinge point” in the play, where Zinnie Harris’ world starts to dominate Shakespeare’s. It’s a new play, really. It’s not “Macbeth”.
What was it about Zinnie Harris’ script that appealed to you the most as an actor?
That it’s a Zinnie Harris script, really. I’ve been fortunate to work with and for Zinnie a few times and I love it. She creates worlds I want to play in. I like it when expectations are challenged and not just played to. The fact that it’s not the Macbeth people know from the Shakespeare text makes it even more interesting. I get a chance to be Zinnie’s guy. To be Nicole Cooper’s guy. What a privilege.
In this production it’s Lady Macbeth who is at the heart of the story, how does that change playing Macbeth for you?
It doesn’t change playing Macbeth for me to be honest. I’m playing Zinnie’s Macbeth and he was only ever going to be the character we made in the room. I’m not here to play Macbeth in any way I’ve ever considered before, and I had no preconceptions of who this guy was to be, really. I’m trying to be the man that Zinnie wrote and the character that helps advance the story that her play is telling.
You’ll be performing the show is New York in April, before returning to Edinburgh in May, what are you most looking forward to about that?
I love working. I love it. I love being in theatres, I love listening to my colleagues and doing the show and telling the story. I love it. I don’t do it because it pays well and doing the show comes at a sort of personal cost because it has me- and everyone else- away from our families and friends. So I look forward the most to doing our show and seeing what it becomes over the length of time we have to explore it. I love being in London, I recently just moved away from here, so being back is a buzz.
Working in Brooklyn is a buzz and culturally different. And Edinburgh is a city that I know really well and love working in. So, beyond working in cool cities with all the benefits that brings, I’m excited just to be working and working with people I love and respect. What a privilege.
What’s been your favourite moment of the experience so far?
When Shane from the Blue Blazer in Edinburgh (nearest and best pub to stage door of the Lyceum) cheered excitedly when the company walked into the bar after rehearsals, a year since we were last in there at the end of our first run.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Macbeth (an undoing)?
Don’t think about it. Do it. Why not? If you’ve even considered it for a second you must be close. You must be intrigued. There must be something that pricked your interest. So just book it and see what you think. Come and see a story you think you know, characters you think you know and have your expectations challenged. Leave delirious or furious or somewhere in between, but come to the theatre and see work. Mainly, though, see Nicole Cooper playing Zinnie Harris’ Lady Macbeth.
