Macbeth | Storyhouse Chester

Directed by Jamie Sophia Fletcher, Storyhouse Original's production of Macbeth breathes fresh life and energy into one of Shakespeare's most well-known tragedies, creating a bold and vibrant production that allows universal accessibility to Shakespeare's work.

One day, Scottish General Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches who claims he will one day become king. Upon telling his wife the news, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth scheme to kill the King when he visits their castle. This leads to Macbeth becoming the King and as guilt and fear begin to consume Macbeth and his wife, a series of paranoid states leads to more crimes being committed to maintain his power, leading to the deterioration of mental health, ultimately exploring how the desire for power leads to destruction.

Whilst Macbeth, or any of Shakespeare's work for that matter, can initially appear daunting, Fletcher ensures that the production is fast-paced and engaging throughout. Although adhering to the original text, the direction of the play allows for the overarching themes and messages of the play to shine through, whilst incorporating some playful contemporary elements to engage younger audiences. And whilst it can sometimes be difficult to follow the language being used closely, the overall impressive performances of the cast allows for the overarching themes and messages to be conveyed easily.

Robin Morrissey gives a convincing and captivating performance as the titular character. Initially appearing confident and respectful, Morrissey captures the psychological decline of Macbeth with meticulous changes to his aura, delivering key lines with an incredible depth of emotion and embodying his emotional state in the change to his body language. Due to the intimate space of the theatre, you instantly feel drawn into Morrissey's Macbeth, and Yolanda Ovide is equally compelling as Lady Macbeth. Ovide's steadfast ambition and determination is prominent in her portrayal, she commands the stage with a powerfulness but also shows great range as a performer with a deeply tragic performance in the second act.

Another standout comes from Marc Mackinnon as King Duncan. Although limited with stage time as this character, Mackinnon sticks out with his pompous and playful take on the King, bringing much needed comedic relief whilst also not making it self-indulgent and taking away from the fact that Macbeth is ultimately a tragedy. Roly Botha, Motheo Maloma and Evie Woodward take on the three witches with incredible physicality, making their performance deeply unsettling and eerie.

Collectively, the entire cast work tirelessly to maintain the audience's engagement with strong stage presences and clear emotional reaction to reinforce this play as tragedy. Several cast members show great versatility in their ability to multirole and also show great coordination in the movement and choreography from Michela Meazza.

Andrew Exeter's signature set and lightning design perfectly compliments this production. A stripped back set allows the performances to be the main focus. A highlight of this production is when Macbeth sits on the toilet and addresses 'the murderers' - a wonderful metaphor for 'sitting on the throne'. Daniel Denton's projection design is incredibly effective in drawing attention to significant lines or scenes throughout the play. Denton's projection is striking and draws focus to the brutality or gory aspects of the piece. Sarah Victoria's sound design was key in building tension, reflecting the mood of the piece and creating atmosphere. However, the choice to play songs such as Off With Your Head during brutal murder scenes did feel slightly distasteful and out of touch with the overall tragedy.

With enticing production elements and gripping performances from the cast all round, Storyhouse Original's Macbeth is a modern and fresh retelling of a timeless tragedy.

Macbeth plays at the Storyhouse Chester until 21st March 2026 - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark Senior