Outside, Damned Spot
E.A.S. plans al fresco Macbeth at Marchmont St Giles
Edinburgh Acting School is planning to stage an outdoor production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at St Giles Churchyard, Marchmont, on Halloween weekend.
Covid-19 restrictions permitting, the production will have four socially distanced performances on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October 2020, at 7pm and 9pm each evening.
Ashley Barlow (Lady Macbeth) and Catherine Bisset (Macbeth). Pic: Chris Scott
Director Emily Ingram told Æ that this outdoor, dystopian production cuts Shakespeare’s tragedy down to 60 minutes. St Giles’ Churchyard will be transformed into a bloody battlefield for the performances from the students of Edinburgh Acting School’s Performance Course.
Ingram is artistic director of Some Kind of Theatre. She has been making something of a name for herself over lockdown as an associate director and an inventive master of props for the weekly digital Shakespeare project The Show Must Go Online that is staging his complete works, in the order he wrote them, on Zoom productions.
post-apocalyptic wasteland
Speaking of the E.A.S. Macbeth she says: “Struggling for survival in this brutal, post-apocalyptic wasteland the Macbeths receive word of a prophecy, a promise of power. Bloodshed, ritual, betrayal and death must follow.
“Celtic mythology inspired witches populate this 21st century battleground, and masks are worn to keep out the ‘fog and filthy air’ of Shakespeare’s best-loved tragedy.”
Dramaturgy and production assistance will be by Jen McGregor, know for Heaven Burns, Vox and Comfort And Joy. Ingram will be joined by Some Kind of Theatre colleague and Some Kind of Violence specialist, Christopher Paddon, in arranging the stylised, socially distanced fight choreography.
cast
The witches will be played by Noni Townshend, Sandrine Cazelet and Kirsty Vance. Catherine Bisset will be taking the title role with Ashley Barlow as Lady Macbeth.
Banquo will be played by Martin Molloy, Duncan by Adam Barnett, Macduff by Rebecca Fairnie and Malcolm by Daniel King. The roles of Angus and Ross will be played by Richard Corral and Malcolm Chambers, with members of the company taking on the roles of the chorus.
Audience members will be required to adhere to strict Covid-19 safety guidelines, (full details published on the School’s website here), and tickets will be for up to four members of a household. No tickets will be available on the door.
Macbeth
Marchmont St Giles Parish Church, 3 Kilgraston Road, EH9 2DW
Friday 30/Saturday 31 October 2020
Two performances daily: 7pm & 9pm
Running time: 60 minutes.
The production is dependent on the Covid-19 regulations.
Tickets: £20 per household (up to four people)
Ticket Link & Safety Guidelines: Tickettailor.
Edinburgh Acting School: www.edinburghactingschool.com
Facebook: @Edinburghactingschool.
ENDS
