Macbeth
- Richard Evans
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
William Shakespeare
The Dukes Theatre Company
Conwy Castle, Conwy
July 17-19, 2025: 2 hrs
(also Denbigh Castle, July 20)
What a setting for an open air production of Macbeth. Conwy Castle saw the betrayal of an English monarch, Richard II, and one of the few successful conquests of the castle was born of subterfuge and ended with nine loyal soldiers being executed so their leaders could be given amnesty. An appropriate setting for a play that centres on the lust for power and its consequences.
This production, by the Dukes Theatre Company from Brighton, is faithful to the script and communicates the familiar story really well and the company works well as a team, moving smoothly between characters. Finnbar Hayman is a suitably tortured Macbeth and Marilyn Nnadebe has sinister moments as his wife, though perhaps the clearest voice is that of Jenni Walker as Lady Macduff.
The conflict scenes show imagination - representing blood with red string is a nice touch. The actors appear to have been told to speak in a loud voice, but sometimes the dialogue is shouted as much as spoken; more subtlety would be welcome, though admittedly difficult to achieve.
The play is of course remarkable, with a resonance that fits easily in various settings around the world today. The major premise - a lust for power that breeds paranoia, killing and ultimately self-destruction can be observed frequently. Macbeth is a homily on the consequences of betrayal and the need for truth and justice in society, something many politicians could learn from. Though it is a tragedy, there is a moral lesson within - that blood leads to blood, and that truth will eventually prevail.
Although it is an atmospheric setting, Conwy Castle presents difficulties in staging Shakespeare: a small stage, competing noise and walls that produce a distorting echo among them. These are handled well: actors speak loudly (with the proviso mentioned above), and the stage is a simple boxy affair, easy to move around the country, and effective with its three levels offering smooth scene changes and the flow of the action. The sound remains a problem, especially when voices are accompanied by background music.
But this doesn't stop this Macbeth being an enthralling production - rewarded here with a well deserved standing ovation.
More info and tickets here
