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London riots inspire Macbeth musical
By Becky BarnesAugust 09, 2012
A year on from the London riots comes a piece of hard-hitting musical theatre that draws inspiration from the chaotic events that unfolded.
And in the words of director Stuart Harvey, it’s not Annie and it’s not Bugsy Malone, it’s more like ‘a mix between Blade Runner and The Godfather’.
It will be a case of expecting the unexpected when Harvey’s modernised version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth premieres at South Hill Park later this month.
Macbeth the musical, a hard-hitting piece of ‘theatre with music’ will be performed by a 48-strong cast of 12 to 21 year olds, in a bid to make Shakespeare modern and accessible.
“It was a work in progress, created during the riots,” Stuart says. “The riots became a huge part of what we were creating.
“We took it a little bit into the future and thought what would have happened if the riots had continued?”
Stuart and composer Garth McConaghie were commissioned by Youth Music Theatre UK (YMT) to work on a new piece of musical theatre based on Macbeth.
Stuart says: “I have worked in musical theatre a very long time and created a number of productions with young people but I have never done anything quite like this. This is up-to-date, modern and challenging – it is truly stand-out.”
Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most iconic and famous plays, is the shortest and bloodiest tragedy the Bard wrote.
The play centres on a man who murders the king in order to take the throne for himself and then commits further murders to maintain power, driving him and his queen to madness.
“This production is visually inspired from the east,” says Stuart.
“The witches are dressed as neo-goths and there is some extreme Japenese fashion, with a military feel.”
The legendary tragedy features famous speeches including ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Is this a dagger?’
“These two speeches are an absolute gift,” says Stuart. “The play has some of the most beautiful text that has ever been written, which has been a godsend to Garth.”
Garth has been working on creating an ‘electronica soundscape’ combining dubstep influences to make ‘complex contemporary modern music’.
The young performers will be adding to the soundtrack by playing musical instruments throughout the piece, which Stuart says gives the piece a ‘real filmic quality’.
When planning their production, Stuart and Garth scoured the country for the best young performers and handpicked 48 from 15,000 hopefuls.
“There is such a good atmosphere because it brings together people who like performing,” says Stuart.
The production team includes choreographer Rachel Birch-Lawson, who has been working ‘tirelessly’ to create a ‘muscular piece of movement’.
“Come and see this really challenging, daring, brave piece of theatre with music,” says Stuart. “You will experience something powerful and visceral – something that will stay with you for a long time.”
- Macbeth is at South Hill Park in Bracknell from Friday, August 17, to Saturday, August 18. To book visit www.southhillpark.org.uk
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