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
• Macbeth and His Wife: how the husband and wife team directing this year's play are interpreting the Scottish Play
• Messing about at Macbeth
• Newcomer brings powerful acting experience
• Rich pickings in Peebles
• Voluntary Arts Scotland interview with Richard Nisbet

Children and Shakespeare

Thirty youngsters are taking part in this year’s promenade performance of Macbeth at Traquair. Since its inception 17 years ago, the number of children involved has steadily increased.

This is something which founding member, Richard Nisbet, is justly proud. "I strongly believe in the benefit of all ages working together. Children can observe acting techniques in adults and learn almost subconsciously what is required for outdoor performances. In addition, the plays themselves are enhanced by directors having to creatively include a cast of youngsters, not necessarily scripted. The outcome has been that we have a team of directors and choreographers working on different aspects of the plays. This year Douglas Roberts, Tom Hudson and Fiona Mcleod are working with the children to ensure their presence is high quality and substantial."

Youngsters who have cut their teeth at Shakespeare at Traquair include such professional actors as Zoe Hunter who is currently rehearsing with the National Theatre of Scotland. She took part in several Shakespeare productions when she was still at school. Roisin Taylor is another success story: she is now studying theatre arts in America.

Shakespeare at Traquair is building up a youth fund to support youngsters who ultimately want to pursue a career in acting like Zoe and the committee hope that youngsters will benefit from their involvement in the annual Shakespeare productions long-term.

Kath Mansfield, a member of the group and a mother who brought her own children along is enthusiastic about the productions. She told us, "What makes Shakespeare at Traquair special for the children is the space. They don’t have to keep silent in the wings or keep quiet during the rehearsals. When they are not performing they can go back to the central point and be with the gang. It is very social. Also it is a beautiful place to rehearse and the kids can play in the grounds when not on scene. This is great for their social skills as well as breaking up the leaning process. I think it is a wonderful experience for children and adults alike. My own son is now waiting for an audition to go to Telford College to study acting."

Kelso High School will be bringing students along to the performance this year. We encourage schools to attend, so please get in touch with us if you would like to bring a party of school children.

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.