Macbeth by Foul Play

On its website Foul Play (S.A.) declares it is a professional theatre company dedicated to presenting challenging works in unexpected places. This company’s thought-provoking production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a challenge indeed, even down to its venue, which has changed a short time before the season starts.

Now, with exclusive around-the clock use of Bowden’s Plant 1 for rehearsal and production, the show is ready to stun audiences. Using unique staging, Foul Play invites audiences to explore Macbeth with two casts of nine; one cast male, the other female.

Dramaturg Craig Behenna and his team have reworked Macbeth’s text extensively so that Director Yasmin Gurreeboo can present a brave new perspective to the play.

Says Gurreeboo, ‘It is going to be very different from any Macbeth that you have seen, or one that you might expect to see. The world of our production will be one in which Macbeth wrestles with the experience of living between blurred lines, of what is real and what isn’t.’

In a place where lines of power are drawn along the lines of gender boundaries, violence and the politics of war and murder, an incarcerated Macbeth is sleepless in a cell. At the mercy of the prison and haunted by personal crimes, Macbeth’s vivid recollections of the past may even make the reprieve offered by execution welcome.

‘To what extent is she/he hallucinating? To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his/her condition and is Macbeth doomed to repeat his/her actions?’ asks Director, Yasmin Gurreeboo. ‘Given two similar versions with completely separate casts, we ask the question: how much of the difference between the two performances is inherent in the production and how much is in the perception and reception of the audience?’

These are intriguing questions, but the production could hardly be in more innovative hands than that of Foul Play’s Artistic Director. Yasmin Gurreeboo’s directing highlights include The Skriker (Edinburgh Fringe and regional tour), Greek (UK tour), An Ode to my Sisters (UK tour), Cinderella (Harrow Arts Centre, UK), and No More Shall We Part (Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide). Gurreeboo also directed the well- received 2013 production of Kate Mulvany’s The Web at Adelaide’s The Bakehouse.

Foul Play’s Macbeth has a talented and experienced professional cast. While the roles they play remain confidential until the production, the actors include Peter Cortissos, Nathan Porteous, Stefani Rossi, David Hirst, Christina Page, Rebecca Calandro, Graham Self, Jacqy Phillips, Elliot Howard, Patrick Frost, Romina Verdiglione, David Geddes, Adam Carter, Laura Brenko, Amy Victoria Brooks, Eddie Morrison, Holly Brindley and Lisa Harper Campbell.

Audiences can choose to attend a Female Ensemble performance, a Male Ensemble performance or a Double Bill. Specific performances can be found on the TryBooking website.

“Methought I heard a voice cry, ’Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!’” is a memorable quote from this William Shakespeare classic. Audiences attending Foul Play’s production of Macbeth may find they lie awake that night, too, as they ponder on the intriguing questions posed by its unique staging.

Lesley Reed

Dates: Thursday, January 23 - Sunday, February 9. See www.trybooking.com for times and prices.

Venue: Plant 1, 18 Park Terrace, Bowden.

Bookings:www.trybooking.com

Images (from top): Female ensemble, Artistic Director. Yasmin Gurreeboo and full company.