Macbeth at Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble

MACBETH

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Angela Witcher

“Bring forth men-children only;

For thy undaunted mettle should compose

Nothing but males.”

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Power hungry warrior and Machiavellian murderess or grief-stricken parents with a painful void to fill?

Returning home from a bloody but victorious battle, Macbeth is met by the Weird Sisters who foretell that he will become King of Scotland. Emboldened by this prediction, the Macbeths take fate into their own hands, murder King Duncan and take the crown.

But the crown sits uneasily and their initial act of ambition and unquenchable desire for power set off a catastrophic series of events that once in motion, cannot be stopped.

It’s taken the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble 21 years to perform Shakespeare’s dark psychological thriller, but the time has come!

Directed by Angela Witcher in the intimate Fringe Brisbane Hub venue, this production will delve into themes of power, ambition, betrayal, and loss. QSE’s Artistic Director Rob Pensalfini will take on the titular role of Macbeth with long-time Core Ensemble member Rebecca Murphy playing Lady Macbeth. Supported by a cast QSE favourites and exciting newcomers, Macbeth is sure to end QSE’s 2022 on a high!

As part of the season, the Ensemble will once again be running its Shakespeare Beyond initiatives; A Night At The Theatre (ANATT) and Relaxed Performance as part of the season. Established in 2016, ANATT invites patrons to donate the price of a ticket. QSE then works with community partners Australian Red Cross, Communify, and Arafmi to share tickets with people who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience live theatre.

"It was the first time I had ever been to a theatre and to see Shakespeare. I was a bit nervous I would not understand it. It was riveting and exciting. I understood it all and did not want it to finish." Julia - ANATT audience member

A Relaxed Performance of Macbeth will be held at 2pm on Saturday, November 19th. Relaxed Performances are designed to welcome people who may enjoy a more relaxed performance environment, including (but not limited to) people with autism or individuals with sensory sensitivity. Parents and caregivers may also find the inclusive atmosphere relaxing with audience members free to move, speak, and respond throughout the performance. Click here for more information.