Macbeth is a classic tale of power, ambition and treachery that has lent itself to many interpretations and settings.
However, the much-performed Shakespeare play arrives at the Lawrence Batley Theatre next week in an entirely new and surprising form.
In a re-vamped version by theatre group Tara Arts, Macbeth has been transformed into the modern-day story of an Asian family’s path to self-destruction and features three drag queens (hijras in contemporary India) as the iconic witches.
London-based Tara Arts, led by artistic director Jatinder Verma, is one of the UK’s foremost creators of cross-cultural theatre, performing both new works and re-imagined classics. For Macbeth, the company has joined forces with Black Theatre Live, a pioneering consortium of eight regional theatres funded by the Arts Council, and Queen’s Hall Arts.
Starring Robert Mountford (previously in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Much Ado About Nothing), as Macbeth, and Shaheen Khan (performed in Bend it Like Beckham at the National Theatre) as Lady Macbeth, the production is on a 13-date UK tour.
The LBT performance is on Tuesday, March 3, at 7.30pm and will be followed by a post-show discussion with members of the cast and crew at Queenie’s Coffee Shop. Tickets are from £10 to £16. For bookings call 01484 430528 or visit www.thelbt.org
