Young Reporter| Macbeth: from medievals to modern| Yulia Rytikova GCS

The play changed the setting from 11th century Scotland to modern day, exhibiting the events of the story in a stage set consisting of a living room and kitchen as opposed to castles and battlefields. Although the change was drastic, the interpretation was able to convey the themes of ambition and commitment, accountability and guilt and the contrast of appearance versus reality with the same amount of precision and accuracy to the original text. The actors were able to convey and demonstrate above and beyond the emotions and struggle of their characters, and you could see each one had a special connection with their role.

The play settled with a darker overall tone than most theatrical interpretations of the school literacy program pieces, however, the work was able to balance an even amount of emotionally intense scenes and comedic aspects. Twyman’s artistic freedom was evident in the recounted version of the play, as seen in the non-chronologically ordered scenes in the portrayal. Many had noted that the cyclical structural choice to end the show with a reference to the first lines of the play was very unexpected, but also this had easily made complete sense to the audience. Audience participation and camera projection work was truly fascinating and entertaining to watch, since it gives one a completely new perspective an event without altering its accuracy to the text. 

Director of English in Guildford County school, Mrs. Jane Doar agreed that the show was original and impressive. She says, “I was slightly worried that for a school group the darkness of the approach would have been slightly misleading, however, I really enjoyed it as a performance, I thought there was a lot of interesting and unique technical changes.” The show was appealing to both school students that visited the theatre for school trips and adults of many ages that came for leisure.