MACBETH
The Telegraph ★★★★☆
Shakespeare’s words wrung into new shapes through raw physical movement…as captivating as it is unsettling…This is a Macbeth full of sound and fury, signifying something with every crooked gesture.
Stewart Lee – Top 9 Shows Edinburgh Fringe
Everything you want…in this brilliantly designed show the turns themselves seem to have risen up out of the clay…Shakespeare himself would surely have enjoyed [this show]
I am glad my kids saw this. It will have made them lifelong converts of real theatre… I am glad I saw it, because it reminded me of being 19 in 1987 and coming here and having my mind blown…
British Theatre Guide ★★★★★
“[Flabbergast Theatre] powerfully emphasize the darkly metaphysical nature of the play… relentless action and invention. Every perfectly constructed, tightly choreographed moment in the play is explored for maximum impact and clarity of purpose…This is an exciting and vital interpretation of Macbeth which serves to invigorate one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays with a new intensity.”
Bouquets and Brickbats ★★★★★
this raucous, visceral reimagining of the story captures the essence of the piece more eloquently than pretty much any other production I’ve seen. The Tragedy of Macbeth ends with a heartfelt standing ovation from the crowd and it is fully deserved. Don’t miss this, it’s a wonder to behold.
Mervyn Strutter – Pick of the Fringe ★★★★★
Voice Mag ★★★★☆
“When a classic has been done again and again, it’s hard to make it unique. However, that wasn’t the case for Flabbergast Theatre. Lending physical theatre to Shakespeare works so well, and the cast of this Tragedy of Macbeth have proved that once again… The chemistry between the cast was palpable … Flabbergast Theatre stayed loyal to a classic but approached it in a refreshing and visually beautiful way”
Mumble ★★★★☆
“Boy! have they produced a massive Macbeth. It looks beautiful, the cast create some stunning scenery using their angular bodies with a minimum of propwork, & all that drumming & Dantean wailing sounds more than amazing… This Macbeth is a stunning production… a Scorpion’s worth of theatre, with a vicious sting in its tail. A pleasure to watch.”
Susan Elkin ★★★★☆
Never have I seen a Macbeth as visceral and muscular as this one… The term “physical theatre” doesn’t actually do it justice. It’s an understatement.
Lost in Theatre Land ★★★★☆
A visceral, crawling, clawing, earthy interpretation… well-worth a watch
A Spy in The Stalls ★★★★☆
Bestial and raw…powerful, thrilling, quite [an] extraordinary interpretation.
The Peg ★★★★☆
exuberant, muscular and unnerving… an ensemble piece in the best sense
London Fringe Review ★★★★☆
Truly breath-taking…This performance was outstanding…Shakespeare would have been in love with this adaptation.
ABOUT
Bringing to bear their award-winning work in puppetry, clown, mask, physical theatre and ensemble, Flabbergast Theatre takes a rigorous and respectful approach to the whole text, combining it with exhilarating aspects of live music gig and event performance to produce a provocative and accessible show.
This cross discipline interpretation features a powerful live soundscape, stripped back set with carefully prioritised props, a tightknit ensemble of eight actors and an aesthetically arresting design. These aspects make Flabbergast Theatre’s MACBETH a truly flexible, hypermobile production able to thrive within mid to large scale venues from ‘found spaces’ to traditional theatres and is perfect for touring, outside socially distant performances are also easily catered for.
With an approximate running time of 100 minutes without an interval or up to 2hrs with, this piece can be performed in a range of staging configurations including promenade, traverse, and proscenium arch.
The focus of Flabbergast theatre’s MACBETH is to engage a new generation of theatregoers whilst surprising without alienating established audiences. A classic tale of greed and guilt, this visceral and lucid interpretation of Shakespeare’s blood-soaked Tragedy of Macbeth is truly FLABBERGAST.