Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

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FROM THE YORK PRESS

The notorious Scottish Play, Macbeth, will receive the Shakespeare4Kidz treatment at the Grand Opera House in York on January 27 at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

“It’s full of weird witches and spooky spells that make Harry Potter and his friends look like amateurs – and there are bloody battles, gruesome ghosts and even a forest which moves.,” says writer/director Julian Chenery.

In response to many theatre folk believing the play to be jinxed, a host of celebrities has sent the company good-luck wishes, including West End actor Jonathan Pryce, who had his own bad-luck stories to tell.

“When I played Macbeth in Stratford, before the first night Lady Macbeth had an accident and fractured her collar bone,” he wrote. “I fell head first down the stairs on stage and for the first time forgot my lines in the middle of a soliloquy. At the Barbican I got stuck in the lift with the three witches and was rescued just in time to make my reappearance.”

Shakespeare4Kidz has toured Macbeth five times since its premiere in 2000, and not without bad luck making its mark that first year. “The famous curse is something we’ve had our share of in the past,” recalls Julian. “In the autumn of 2000 we had incessant rain for three months which affected all of our get-ins and get-outs; a national fuel strike which made it nigh impossible to move the production around the UK; the actor playing Banquo hit his head on the windscreen of the cast coach; the actor playing King Duncan went down with Bell’s Palsy, making half his face freeze; and one of the stage crew walked into a door and fractured her skull. Apart from that, the show was a huge hit and has remained immensely popular ever since.”

For his Shakespeare4Kidz plays, Julian uses the most famous lines from the original texts, weaving them into modern language and then adding song and dance. “The result is a two-hour entertainment which everyone – even the youngest primary children – can understand,” he says. “For Macbeth, the whole plot is retained and all the major characters are there to tell the blood-soaked story of the murderous Scottish warrior, who, egged on by the prophecies of three weird witches and the ambitions of his evil wife, removes every obstacle in his path until he can seize the throne for himself.”

Playing the role of Macbeth for the third – and hopefully lucky – time is Jason Lee Scott, who will lead a 14-strong company in York.

Tickets can be booked on 0844 847 2322 or 0844 372 7272 for group bookings.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON THE YORK PRESS WEBSITE

FROM THE SOUTHEND ECHO WEBSITE

MACBETH MAGIC FOR KIDS AT CLIFFS

DOUBLE, double, toil and trouble spells are heading this way with Shakespeare 4 Kidz’ production of Macbeth.

The famous Scottish play visits the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, on January 13.

Macbeth tells the blood-soaked story of a murderous Scottish warrior with aspirations of becoming the King of Scotland.

Egged on by the prophecies of three weird witches and the ambitions of his evil wife, he removes every obstacle in his path until he can seize the throne.

The difference this time is the play is performed in a way that is more accessible to children. Shakespeare 4 Kidz plays use the most famous lines from the original texts, weave them into modern language, and add some songs and dances into the mix.

The result is an amazing two-hour show. It has been well received each of the five times it has toured the UK since 2000. But creator Julian Chenery believes in the curse said to dog the play.

He says in 2000 it rained for three months which affected all their get-ins and get-outs for their scenery and props, there was a national fuel strike which made it impossible to move the production around the UK, the actor playing Banquo hit his head on the coach windscreen, the actor playing King Duncan went down with Bell’s Palsy making half his face freeze, and one of the stage crew walked into a door and fractured her skull.

Apart from that the show was a huge hit! Now, you can catch this haunted tale – if you dare – when it hits town.

Macbeth, Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Westcliff.

January 13, 10.30am and 1.30pm. £9.50-£16. 01702 351135

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON THE SOUTHEND ECHO WEBSITE