The School Play: William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

Productions of this complex tragedy come thick and fast but rarely is a group of young actors and actresses able truly to convey the disturbing, complicated characters with such maturity. Ed Goodall (S) and Charly Wright (A) portrayed superbly the tormented, tragic story of Macbeth and his wife, gripping the audience with their growing insanity. Charly’s performance of Lady Macbeth’s most famous soliloquy, chilling, terrifying and moving, was nothing short of exceptional.

 The play truly captivated the audience. We started outside, with the Scottish flag flying on top of Pears School and an army truck drawing up in the winter mist, before moving inside to an intimate, traverse stage setting in Pears School. Sarah Cotterill’s (A) brilliant choreography of the witches’ rituals, curses, eerie voices and chanting, was made all the more effective by Brenda Adams’ (A) work on their costumes and hideous make-up. Mention must go also to Josh Benn (S), who gave an emotional performance of Macduff, his reaction to his wife and son’s death was thoroughly upsetting. These protagonists were excellently supported by a cast of actors and actresses who, really merging themselves into their characters, helped to create the atmosphere of war and terror. Music and lighting increased this atmosphere until there was a real sense that everyone who took part understood the need to convey a dark, merciless world of violence and revenge and, after the sombre curtain call, the audience seemed almost shell-shocked.