Macbeth – a breath of fresh air!

Thame Players are celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death by staging an open-air production of Macbeth next month. It will be set in the gardens of the privately owned Edwardian house, The Elms, accessed from Thame’s Upper High Street, and follows their highly successful open-air Much Ado About Nothing there two years ago.

Ryan Whitney and Abi Tester who are playing Lord and Lady Macbeth rehearsing at The Elms

Chris Parker, the Director, is taking the play back to its historic roots in eleventh-century Scotland. He explained: “I believe this production will offer a breath of fresh air for those who prefer their Shakespeare set in its original period. It will be authentic, including costumes and weaponry consistent with that period. I see Macbeth very much as a thriller, taking the audience on a nail-biting journey into the dark realms of human nature, complete with witchcraft and supernatural elements. At the same time, the impact of human frailty and lust for power are laid bare, as the characters are caught up in a tempest of their own making.”

Chris is well-qualified to direct Shakespeare, having previously produced several other Shakespeare plays at open-air locations such as the Chiltern Open-Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles. He has been involved with Shakespeare projects at the Old Vic, Leeds Castle, and St John’s Smith Square, and has worked with the late Cedric Messina as well as at the Globe Theatre with Sam Wannamaker. For Thame Players, Chris has directed Present Laughter, How the Other Half Loves and Blithe Spirit.

Macbeth is played by Ryan Whitney, and his emphasis will be on exposing the sinister nastiness of the Scottish king. Ryan has played both amateur and professional roles, including King George in The Madness of King George, Caliban in The Tempest, and Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

Lady Macbeth is played by Abi Tester, whose experience with powerful, emotionally charged roles includes playing Joy in Shadowlands and Doňa Rosita in Lorca’s Doňa Rosita.

To ensure the audience experience is as pleasurable as possible, Thame Players will be providing undercover seating for all and are encouraging audience members to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds, and additional refreshments will be available. These will include locally brewed beer, wines, hot or cold drinks, and delicious food provided by local caterer, Kirsty’s Kitchen, from whom picnics can be ordered in advance via email: kirstyskitchen@gmail.com

Open-air productions like this are costly to stage and Thame Players are lucky enough to have the support of headline sponsor, Rectory Homes, as well as other local businesses, whose contributions will ensure that Macbeth is a memorable production – a breath of fresh air in every sense.

Macbeth will be held at 32 The Elms, Upper High Street, Thame OX9 2DN from Tuesday, July 5 – Saturday, July 9, inclusive. Evening performances will be at 7.45pm and a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday (doors open from 6.15 pm daily and from 1pm on Saturday). Tickets cost £10 and £9 (concessions) from Spear Travels, telephone 01844 217228, or you can book online at www.thameplayers.co.uk