The magical outdoor Shakespeare festival returns with two of his most popular works: Macbeth and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Macbeth (31st July - 4th August)
"Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it."
When the victorious Macbeth is presented with a prophecy, a path of ambition, jealousy, and duplicity is laid down before him. One of the nation's favourite tragedies, Macbeth tests the bounds of love, loyalty, and lust for power in murderous fashion.
Interview with Courtney Larkin - Macbeth Director
Why is this play relevant to a contemporary audience?
It looks at how unchecked ambition and its obsession with success can be poisonous to one's soul, and how toxic masculinity is often linked with this kind of unchecked ambition - this desire to be on top - particularly in the cutthroat corporate world, where many people find themselves. By transposing the story to the near future, we can heighten the reality to something that affects an audience more viscerally.
What will the world of your production allow you to unlock within the text?
By transposing it to the corporate world, our understanding of the word "success" changes. Often in Macbeth, success is referencing “ to come after” and “take the place of”, as in an office or estate. whilst here we analyse it directly with the attainment of wealth, position, honours, or the like.
What design ideas are currently emerging?
Design-wise we're looking at placing it in a futuristic world. A lot of straight angles and exaggerated shapes. Using natural materials and highlighting the environment already present to create a corporate place. Think American Psycho meets Bladerunner. We'll be looking at using the style of Cyberpunk to push the design forward. Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a futuristic setting that tends to focus on a "combination of lowlife and high tech" featuring advanced technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and cybernetics, juxtaposed with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order.
What type of actors are you looking for from a casting perspective?
Actors who are familiar and comfortable with Shakespeare's text. Looking for men and women who exude confidence. Actors coming from all walks of life are welcome - but confidence is key. There will be movement and fight sequences, so actors with a movement background I'd be keen to work with. Also, just knowing what extra/special skills actors have is great as I love incorporating it into productions.
Describe your production in three words:
Sexy
Drenched
Slick
The Merry Wives of Windsor (7th - 11th August)
"Wives may be merry, and yet honest too."
An ill-advised attempt to seduce two married women leaves Falstaff in a heap of trouble. What follows is mischief, confusion, and ridiculous practical jokes. One of the most frenetic and saucy of Shakespeare's comedies: the tale of Falstaff's self-inflicted muddle is never one to miss.
Interview with Douglas Baker - Merry Wives Director
Why is this play relevant to a contemporary audience?
Whilst at its heart it is a meaningless light hearted romp through the classic British sitcom formula, there is, like most Shakespearean Comedies, a dark undercurrent. A dysfunctional man of high position tries to take advantage of two women. In our world of ongoing corruption and greed there is no story more true to what is going on, only, in this version, the women get their own back.
What will the world of your production allow you to unlock within the text?
Setting the piece in a Benidorm-style holiday resort will allow us to exploit the British attitude towards foreigners: saying things in English loudly and slowly….. and push towards uncovering little truths about Brexit, phalocentric culture, and our little-island mentality.
What design ideas are currently emerging?
Sand everywhere, beach umbrellas, stag nights, everyone’s wasted and wanting to have a good time. Greensleeves meets techno. Shakespeare meets Love Island.
What type of actors are you looking for from a casting perspective?
Actors who are generous and don’t get too bogged down in ‘truth’ - just willing to throw themselves in and have a go. They are willing to do odd things, because there’s lots of crazy hijinks in this production. Actors who can switch between roles quickly and with enthusiasm. Kindness and respect are also the bottom line.
Describe your production in three words:
Loud
Chaotic
Turbulent
Two plays that mix comedy and tragedy, love and betrayal, and two productions filled with wit, creativity and verve. And all under the summer starlight.