Macbeth, Studley Sports and Social Club
BIRNAM Wood came to Dunsinane over the weekend, in a tremendous performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish Play’ Macbeth by Studley’s very own Aunty Jen Productions.
Yes the theatre company born in lockdown was back on stage at its summer residency – a truck trailer kindly provided by local heavy haulage firm Allelys and parked in the grounds of Studley Sports and Social Club.
And what a show the cast put on – packed with sword fights, blood, gore and ghosts, plus some of the most famous lines in the English language, this was indeed a treat.
In fact this was doubly so for not only did the players put on a grand performance, but they also swiftly erected a marquee to keep the audience dry just in case the rain threatened to put a damper on things – it didn’t and it stopped just before curtain up.
The title role is a tough one to fill – conveying how Macbeth goes from a loyal subject to a murdering tyrant in two hours is no easy task, but Alex Bloor pulled it off superbly, taking the entire audience with him on his bloody journey.
Jen Rigby was just perfect as the evil and steadily unhinged Lady Macbeth whose skullduggery come back to haunt her.
And take a bow too the rest of the cast, newcomer Lauren Ross (Banquo), Neville Cann (Duncan) Nicolette Morgan (Malcolm) Annaliese Morgan (Donalbain) and Natasha Stone (Fleance) who collectively filled the rest of the roles.
They were absolutely fantastic, going through countless costume changes and still keeping the pace high and the story flying along.
Indeed at times they were so slick they sometimes left the audience behind and wondering who was before them.
But this minor quibble aside, my goodness, a full blooded Macbeth performed in the open air by a brilliant theatre company – what an absolute treat.
If that wasn’t enough there was a bar at the Sports and Social Club and an Aunty Jen barbecue to enjoy.
Tremendous.
