Oldham Coliseum Theatre has announced the full cast for its new production of Macbeth, directed by the theatre’s Creative Director Nick Bagnall and staged inside Oldham’s Liquid & Envy nightclub.
Award-winning actor and writer Andrew Sheridan will play Macbeth alongside The Bay star Erin Shanagher as Lady Macbeth. They are joined by Reuben Johnson as Macduff, Darren Kuppen as Malcolm, Dean Boodaghians-Nolan as Banquo and Gurmej Virk as Duncan.
The company also features Amy Drake, Mary Puzey and Amy Bent as the witches, Sam O’Donnell as Fleance, Fletcher Davies Rushton as Young Siward, Martha Ritchie as Ross and Ben Thomas-Harris as Seyton.
Running from 23 October to 7 November, the 19-performance production marks the latest chapter for Oldham Coliseum Theatre as it continues presenting work across the town while its historic Fairbottom Street home undergoes restoration.
Bagnall’s reimagining relocates Shakespeare’s tragedy to a gritty late-1970s landscape of gangsters, casinos and shifting social codes, inspired by the atmosphere of Oldham during a period of significant change.
Staged inside a working nightclub, the production places audiences in the centre of Macbeth’s increasingly fractured world, exploring ambition, masculinity, power and identity through a distinctly Oldham perspective. Audiences can choose between standing and seated tickets.
Speaking about the casting, Nick Bagnall said: “Casting this production has been an extraordinary process because I wanted to create a cast that could really inhabit this world together. We have some hugely experienced actors alongside brilliant emerging talent, and a strong North West identity runs through it all.
“Andrew and Erin bring an intensity to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, while Reuben, Dean, Gurmej and the rest of the company bring their own histories, energies and perspectives to the world we are creating. That feels particularly important for a production rooted so deeply in Oldham. I want audiences to recognise something of their own town, its people and its history, while being taken somewhere they absolutely don’t expect.”
Lead Producer Justine Potter added: “We were looking for a cast who could bring Shakespeare’s language to life in a way that felt immediate, truthful and connected to the world Nick has created. It was particularly exciting to find such a strong mix of established actors with deep North West connections and emerging local talent.
“It feels like a very special group of actors for this production, and I’m excited to see what they create together in the unique setting of Liquid & Envy.”
The two-week run includes a relaxed performance, an audio-described performance, a captioned performance and two British Sign Language interpreted performances, with accessibility built into the production’s schedule.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
