SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
Australia’s premier theatre company presenting works of William Shakespeare – aka The Bard – returns to Northern Territory stages to present one of his most famous works, Macbeth.
WORDS TIERNEY WHITE
SYDNEY'S BELL SHAKESPEARE has been doing the rounds on stages across the country since 1990, proving time and time again that Shakespeare’s works are anything but passe despite being penned centuries ago.
The award-winning theatre company returns to stages in Darwin and Alice Springs to present what’s regarded as Shakespeare’s most haunting thriller, and follows the story of Scottish general Macbeth, famous for his exploits on the battlefield.
Following a bloody battle, Macbeth and his comrade Banquo are met by three Weird Sisters, who prophesise that Macbeth will one day be king. Unable to shake the thought, Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth. Driven by an insatiable hunger for power, posterity and certainty, the two commit a murder that, in turn, sets in motion the unravelling of their sanity.
With blood on their hands, they face the dire consequences of their despicable actions.
Under the direction of Peter Evans, with Anthony Taufa in the title role and Matilda Ridgway as Lady Macbeth, this terrifying portrayal of moral collapse takes audiences on an intense journey into the dark heart of humanity.
Evans says Taufa’s portrayal of the title character is moving, supported by an exceptional cast.
“Anthony is a ‘feeling’ actor. He has ready access to his emotions which makes for an ideal Macbeth, as Shakespeare has created a brutal warrior with an active and vibrant imagination – Macbeth is a killer and poet. We hear directly from Macbeth, so Anthony’s warmth and charisma is disarming,” he says.
“Anthony is a delight to work with. He is a great company member and glue for the ensemble. He is very funny and warm, which is ideal when working on a dark play with difficult scenes and themes. This cast and crew is experienced and kind and full of fun, I couldn’t ask for better collaborators.”
The respect flows both ways, as Taufa appreciates Evans’ collaborative approach when directing.
“He has a very strong aesthetic in his productions, so I was taken aback by how collaboratively he works on the floor with his actors. He’s generous and has allowed me to flourish in my weirdness and make strong choices playing the title character.”
Despite his passing more than 400 years ago, Shakespeare’s works remain the most performed and produced in the world, The Bard widely regarded as the greatest writer of English works in history. Throughout his life, he penned around 38 plays and 154 sonnets.
Evans believes Shakespeare’s enduring appeal lies in their relatability.
“The plays have stories that still resonate, and the characters have obstacles we find fascinating. Even if we can’t relate to a Scottish noble wishing to be king, we understand ambition, and hopefully we can relate to the guilt the characters become consumed with.”
Taufa relishes the opportunity to be able to perform Shakespeare’s work.
“I enjoy working on The Bard because I enjoy words. I am a lover of Crosswords, etymology and word manipulation, and the pioneer – the threshold and the pinnacle of modern English is William Shakespeare. A great measure of an actor is to perform and thrive doing Shakespeare,” he says.
Always included on the Bell Shakespeare touring circuit, the cast and crew are all keen to return to the NT, with performances in the Top End and Red Centre.
“It is always a pleasure to tour the NT. The audiences have been coming to the company for many, many years but also to perform for the young people and give them an experience of Shakespeare in performance is special for us,” Evans says.
“Then there is the natural beauty of touring to Darwin and Alice Springs, which is a highlight for the actors and crew.”
Bell Shakespeare's Macbeth
WHEN SAT 10 OCT | 7.30PM
AT ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
COST $72-$78
INFO araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
WHEN TUE 13 OCT | 10.30AM & 7.30PM
AT AANT CENTRE
COST $30-$45
INFO yourcentre.com.au
