Juniors put a modern twist on Macbeth

Directed by Rod Wycherley and Clare Huxter, the junior production of Shakespeare's Scottish play was played to packed houses in Big School on two evenings this week.

Inventively relocated to the cut throat world of 21^st century corporate business, the effective staging was dark, minimal and cold, propelling the audience to a world of high finance and board meetings where Chief Executives plan hostile takeovers and office rivalries become matters of life and death. In this climate, loyalty is an expedient commodity and ruthless, vaulting ambition is the new holy grail.

Dirty deals are sealed at The Heath nightclub, where the vamp-like witches, assuredly played by Sareena Blackburn, Amelia Mayhew and Annabel Sen, manipulate their male prey with ease, taking pleasure in the seduction of Macbeth.

Jack Harrison gave a mature performance as the hapless, tragic figure, showing both vulnerability and utter brutality. At his side, spurring him on to violent gory deeds, was Lady Macbeth, impressively played by Carys Bainbridge. For all her fierce cruelty and intense persuasion, she was able to bring a genuine pathos later in the play as she faced her nightmares, isolated from her partner in crime and stripped of her wits.

This was a strong ensemble production, well supported by a slick production team, producing impressive costume and makeup, inventive sound design and effective atmospheres in lighting.

The cast understood the language and its rhythm and were at ease with the increasingly dark imagery of death and vengeance. This was a fast paced production, with notable highlights from the forces of good, in the figures of Banquo (Tyger Drew-Honey), Macduff (Jake McGrath), Malcolm (Simon Guyott) and Ross (Felicity Green), set against the forces of evil, epitomised most terrifyingly in Emily Mason's commanding portrayal of Hecate.

Kim Chandley