Macbeth

7.30 pm Wednesday 2^nd - Saturday 5^th June 2010
7.30 pm Wednesday 9^th - Saturday 12^th June 2010

Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire EH44 6PW

Tickets: £12 (£10 concession)
Tickets and supper: £24 (£22 concession): Menu
Box Office: Eastgate Theatre Peebles, 01721 725777

Helpful-links
Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre
Location and directions to Traquair House
Local accommodation - ReceptionBell.com

Please ensure that you arrive by 7.20 pm, to allow yourself time to walk to the start of the play. This is an outdoor promenade performance and you should wear sensible shoes and appropriate clothing.

• Further details about our production of Macbeth
• The crucial contribution of children and youngsters to Shakespeare at Traquair
• Messing about at Macbeth
• Newcomer brings powerful acting experience
• Rich pickings in Peebles
• Voluntary Arts Scotland interview with Richard Nisbet

Macbeth And His Wife

Director, Richard Forsyth, leads the cast around the grounds to describe each scene as the rehearsal schedule for Macbeth gets underway at Shakespeare at Traquair.

This year’s Shakespeare at Traquair is a new version of that old favourite, Macbeth. Husband and wife team, Richard and Fiona Forsyth, are directing the dark machinations of the tortured Macbeth’s, whose dealings with the occult and political assassinations result in paranoia and mental meltdown.

It is apt that a married couple are moulding this drama, much like Macbeth and his Lady wielded their might to manipulate their way to the throne. The Forsyth’s, however, will no doubt reach a pinnacle of glory because of a great cast who trust them and their vision. While we are not party to the plotting that goes on at the Forsyth’s home, it is certain that at Traquair no blood will be shed on this production!

Fiona is focusing on the Macbeth and Lady Macbeth scenes and developing the texture of their relationship, while Richard is more concerned with the political power struggles within the play. “Richard and I discuss the play in depth, when we are at home,” explained Fiona, “and we spark off ideas together. Of course, we may determine the overall creative direction but Douglas Roberts and Fiona McLeod are key players in directing and choreographing the large children’s cast. And, of course, the core actors at Traquair are experienced and imaginative so the final version is a large collaboration between us all, with Richard and I selecting the best of everything. It is hugely satisfying.”

This is not Shakespeare at Traquair’s first version of the Scottish Play. It was performed at Traquair back in 2000. Richard Nisbet was the director then (he plays Duncan this time) and his focus was a marching army from the Bear Gates and a Macbeth who emerged from a foggy Quair burn to stagger upon sixteen punk witches. At the time it received excellent reviews. It will be interesting to see how this compares as the company of players have grown and expanded.

Macbeth runs from Wednesday to Saturday, 2-5 June and 9-12 June at Traquair House, Innerleithen. Tickets are £12 (£10 conc) and available from the Eastgate Theatre box office 01721 725777. Supper tickets are available on Friday and Saturday nights at £24 (£22 conc) for a two course supper plus coffee.