A Tragedy If You Missed This Play
Leicester Cathedral proved to be a perfect setting for one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, staged by MOPA Theatre Company.
There were no elaborate sets or special effects; Nic Brownlie's production took the play back to the tradition of a Jacobean travelling theatre company, using the building and a talented cast to convey the meaning.
The religious overtones were emphasised and had weight within the gothic arches of the cathedral, bringing together the secular and religious aspects of this morality tale as a Jacobean audience might have experienced them.
Although the centre of the action was the area in front of the audience, the production made good use of the building.
Witches and knights frequently appeared through the audience from all directions, characters spoke directly to audience members and witches cowered among the crowd.
Add in a little offstage action and simple music, and the result was a production which seemed to cloak and involve the audience in the unfolding story.
Jonathan West and Joanna Bond were excellent as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, while Sophie Cartman, Kate Rodden and Lila Whelan gave wicked performances as the writhing, clawing witches.
This was a well adapted production featuring a talented cast.
If you missed it, catch it at another cathedral while the tour lasts.
Macbeth in the Cathedral at Leicester Cathedral - Review by Peter Collett - First published in The Leicester Mercury, Tuesday 25th May 2010