Macbeth comes home to Cawdor
by Margaret Chrystall
A TOUR of Macbeth brings the play to the thane’s home – Cawdor Castle.
But Sunday’s production will give a different take on the play being performed in the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death.
"There is more of a tenuous link there with Macbeth historically and our version of the play is set in a decayed nursery, not a castle," said actress Nicole Cooper who will play Lady Macbeth.
"But without a doubt when we start talking about the Thane Of Cawdor and the prophecy, the electricity in the audience and the cast – knowing we are outside the place we are talking about – will be exciting.
"The grounds of Cawdor Castle look absolutely stunning and we will incorporate the sky and talk about the greenery – it is going to be brilliant.
"We all can’t wait."
Nicole has been with the company for eight seasons and says: "Within that time I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve played many of Shakespeare’s main female characters – and male characters as well!
"But Lady Macbeth was never really on my radar.
"I maybe assumed – I’m originally from Zambia – that if they did it during my time with the company it would maybe be a quite heavily Scottish-based production.
"So in my head I had just ruled myself out of it."
But Nicole is relishing the chance to play one of shakesoeare’s most unforgettable women.
"She is a very complicated character, Lady Macbeth," Nicole says.
"We are coming to it from a different angle to what most people would know."
The Bard In The Botanics’ company production takes a closer look at the Macbeths as a couple who have lost a child.
Nicole says: "There is this hope that they will fill the void of losing a child by pouring their energy into this greater purpose, their ambition, this other-worldly thing which they hope will fix them – but it doesn’t.
"It breaks them even more, so it’s really sad.
"And it’s exciting to hear the audience responding.
"It’s definitely a horror story.
"And it’s one of the most disturbing productions I’ve ever been in."
But Nicole believes the different take, though still retaining the original text, works for both those who have seen the play before and those who haven’t.
"I think people who know the play very well will see a really interesting version. It goes straight through in one hour and 40 minutes.
"Most of us – including Kirk Bage – who plays Macbeth – and myself never really leave the stage. We’re trapped in this nightmare world."
The actress also hopes that people who might not have loved Shakespeare experienced at school will give it a go.
"I always feel a little bit of heartache when I hear of people who have been so put off by their experiences of doing Shakespeare at school that they close their minds to it and feel it’s not for them.
"I think to see it performed is one of the best ways to experience Shakespeare."
Artistic director Gordon Barr explained that the production coming to Cawdor formed through talking and development during rehearsals.
"It came down to working out what I was going to do with it outdoors. The play relies on darkness and versions of it in theatre tend to be very dimly lit and dark, but you can’t do it in Scotland outside!
"It became clear to me that the decisions were going to be based on working out where the darkness of the play would come from.
"It occurred to me ‘What happens to somebody when they choose to commit murder?’ and what does that do to your mind.
"Then it developed into playing it as a psychological horror.
"We talked a lot in rehearsals about classic horror – not jump-out-of-your-seat gory horror films.
"But the creepy ones that kind of get under your skin. The ones that unsettle you.
"But our production is still very much Shakespeare’s story, just told in an unexpected way."
The company is performing at Cawdor Castle for the first time as part of the company’s first summer tour.
"It’s our own 15th anniversary, so we wanted to take what has been such a big success in Glasgow out to other parts of Scotland."
"Cawdor Castle themselves got in touch. With it being Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary, they were looking for a production of Macbeth and Eden Court put us in touch with each other.
"Happily, it all worked out.
"It’s a thrilling opportunity for us to be performing with the castle as a backdrop.
"We have done occasional visits to other locations. But this is our first castle."
Bard In The Botanics’ Macbeth is on Sunday at Cawdor Castle. The gates will open at 6.30pm and the performance starts at 7.30pm. Call Cawdor Castle for tickets on 01667 404401. [Tickets are adults £15 child £8 (12 Advisory). Guest are invited to bring a picnic, a rug or chairs to enjoy the performance set with the backdrop of Cawdor Castle.
