With the upcoming 2015 movie adaptation of Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cottilard, the Shakespearean supernatural tragedy is about to get a new big screen makeover, but that hasn’t stopped acclaimed British theatre director, Carrie Cracknell from throwing her own concoction into the fiery cauldron this year too with a production at the Young Vic. She’s not going to be alone in her quest to add something new to the well trodden ground of The Scottish Play, as she will be joined by her new-found creative partner, Australian dance choreographer Lucy Guerin, to deliver the movement and visual essence of the play.
The production builds on their previous collaboration on Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy, Medea, at the National Theatre last year. The play is just as dramatic as the Shakespeare play they’re moving on to, with just as much questionable morality, mythology and violence, so it has set the pair up well for the performance planned for the Young Vic later in 2015.
It’s going to be interesting seeing how dance choreography can add to the sheer drama of The Tragedy Of Macbeth, with everything from the appearance of the witches on the moor, the slow breakdown of Lady Macbeth and the ferocity of the closing battle scenes being enhanced with Guerin’s vision. The storyline for the play will follow the original text pretty accurately, following Macbeth’s greedy and egotistical bid for power after hearing the witches’ prophecy proclaiming that he will be king.
The ratcheting of tension from Macbeth’s initial battle glory to his meeting with the witches, murderous greed and slow downfall makes for rich pickings for dance choreography. It should make for a powerful interpretation of one of the darkest plays in history.
Carrie Cracknell and Lucy Guerin’s take on Macbeth will be opening at the Young Vic in London’s West End on the 26th November 2015, with a winter run that takes it through until the 16th January 2016. Performances will be Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2pm on the 5th, 12th, 19th, 22nd, 29th and 31st December 2015, and the 2nd, 9th and 16th January 2016. Ticket prices range from £10 to £35.
Judging from the look of the first visuals for the performance above, the production is likely to be stripped back to its very core in terms of stage design and costume. However, that could add to the ability of the play to conjure up the themes of ambition, power, kingship, violence, masculinity, guilt and the supernatural.
With Cracknell’s talent for delivering strong stage performances, we’re expecting Macbeth at the Young Vic to be a startling and scintillating interpretation of Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy. She’s picked up a number of award nominations for her previous work and her latest production could be a contender to add to the tally. Here first major production as a director was Macbeth back in 2002 at the Lakeside Arts Centre in Nottingham, so she’s got a history with the play, which should contribute to its potential success.
