This production won acclamation at the Edinburgh fringe festival last year 2022,  a mighty clue this was no ordinary staging of ‘Macbeth’, plus the name of the theatre company ‘flabbergast’, this was going to be unusual, would it be ‘fair or foul’ I was asking myself.

If I had read the promotion for this show last night, it wouldn’t have been such a shock to my senses, and would have been more mentally prepared.

On arrival, already performing we see the troupe dancing, moving on stage dressed in garb that is difficult to describe (weird), loud percussion begins and the lights are dimmed, ‘Macbeth’ is underway.

There were a couple of highlights, the physicality of the whole cast but especially the scenes that included Macbeth and his scary wife, Lady Macbeth, and also one song sang acapella by the whole cast, that was spellbinding. 

The word ‘Macbeth’ (the Scottish play) always draws my attention, this Shakespeare tragedy however performed tends to be memorable whether on the screen, Stratford, or a local amateur affair, next time though, I am going to read the promo.  3/10

The Tragedy of Macbeth showed at Nottingham Playhouse from 8-10 June.

Review by Ann Taylor