Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

FROM TIME OUT BAHRAIN

Bard and guts

Shakespeare 4 Kidz brings the gory tale of Macbeth to the UAE. Karen Iley caught up with the players Discuss this article

Shakespeare is a little like broccoli – at least as far as kids are concerned. They approach him and his work in the same way they do the gaseous green vegetable – with reluctance, suspicion and a lot of groaning. His plays are impossible to understand and nippers would rather have their toe-nails individually pulled out than read one (‘Andrew, you’re line 16 to 20’) or, heaven forbid, sit through one in the theatre. Right? Wrong. We learned that last year British theatre company Shakespeare 4 Kidz, or S4K for short, brought their rollicking, musical version of Romeo & Juliet to the country, leaving pint-sized theatre-goers wide-eyed and agog at the rock ’n’ roll interpretation of the bard’s most famous love story.

We were delighted to hear S4K was returning to the Middle East, but when we they said they were bringing Macbeth to our stages, we were, we confess, a little skeptical. Transforming Shakespeare’s complex work into something understandable and enjoyable for kids is obviously something at which the group excels, but is putting on this blood-soaked story of ambition, murder and madness just asking for double trouble?

Perhaps not. The tale of the power-mad Scottish warrior and his evil, neurotic wife, encompasses black magic, weird witches, prophecies, and a forest that moves. It will no doubt thrill any kid who delights in the gruesome and revels in the bloodthirsty (most kids these days seem to enjoy taking a trip to the dark side). In fact, for a generation raised on Hogwarts, Macbeth may even make Harry Potter look tame.

As the play’s director and S4K founder Julian Chenery says, ‘It’s scary and spooky, but we haven’t yet heard of any kids having night terrors after seeing our Macbeth.’ He adds, ‘Macbeth is about how this bloke gets overwhelmed by power and glory, and what he does to achieve his aims. It’s about wicked people doing dreadful things, and everyone loves a bit of blood. Boys especially – they love a good sword fight and a
bit of murder.’

Chenery lists a few ‘lovely gory bits’ such as the appearance of a blood-drenched Banquo’s ghost, and, our personal favourite, the wonderfully brutal ‘severed head on a stick moment’, when brave Macduff trots in with the slain Macbeth. But Chenery is keen to stress there’s no gratuitous violence. ‘It’s not Inglourious Basterds,’ he says. ‘King Duncan’s murder happens off stage in the original play and does so in our version. Likewise, Macbeth is beheaded off-stage. We adjust the gruesome bits to suit the fact that our audience is predominantly school children, but to leave them out altogether would betray the intention of William Shakespeare.’

S4K pares down the original prose, but keeps all the memorable quotes (‘Double, double toil and trouble’ and ‘Out, damned spot!’ are all there), adding a bit of modern language, a hefty dose of humour (apparently there are a few so-bad-they’re-good knock knock jokes thrown in) some catchy tunes (‘Banquo Must Go’ and ‘How Do You Murder a King?’), as well as a few raucous rounds of Celtic dancing.

Chenery adds, ‘There is plenty of atmosphere – lighting, sound effects and the witches – they are the prime movers on the dark side, and their costumes are brilliant. But the songs and dance certainly lighten things up. There is a brilliant dance sequence opening the second half, and the porter, who Shakespeare intended to provide the comic interlude, is extremely funny. Everyone loves him.’

Big and bold, this is a horror story, a tragic play and a pantomime rolled into one. But best of all, the music and movement combo provides a wordless subtitling useful for any kid (or adult, for that matter) struggling to follow the convoluted plot. Go and see it – if you dare.

Catch S4K’s Macbeth at Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. School performances at 8.45am and 11.45am on March 15-18 and public shows on March 19 at 2pm and 5.30pm. Tickets cost Dhs150 for adults, Dhs120 for kids, available from www.timeouttickets.com.

By Karen Iley
Time Out Bahrain, 25 February 2010

CLICK HERE to see the original article on the Time Out Kids website

FROM THE SPIKY PENGUIN WEBSITE

SHAKESPEARE 4 KIDZ MACBETH

Acclaimed UK theatre company Shakespeare 4 Kidz bring their thrilling musical version of Macbeth to DUCTAC from March 15 to 19. Last year\'s Romeo and Juliet was a smash hit in Dubai and Macbeth has received great reviews all over the UK.

The musical tells the story using some of Shakespeare\'s most famous lines, interwoven with modern language so that everyone - even the youngest kids - can understand what is going on.

The play tells the story of a fierce warrior who is told by three witches that he will one day become king of Scotland. Encouraged by his evil wife, ambitious Macbeth murders everyone who stands between him and the throne. The story is exciting, with spooky spells, bloody battles, gory ghosts and even a forest which moves. But there\'s a very funny scene with a porter who tells jokes.

People of all ages loved S4K\'s Macbeth when it toured the UK. Now is your chance to experience the thrills.
Don\'t miss it.

See www.shakespeare4kidz.com for all you need to know.
Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

There's also a chance to be a Macbeth star: find out how to join the cast as the son of Macduff by auditioning at DUCTAC on Saturday February 27 starting at 10am. More details on the website.

SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AT SPIKY PENGUIN

ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH FOR MACBETH?

Macbeth became king is being told in the most accessible way at The Camberley Theatre, on Friday, February 26 at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

It’s full of gory murders, weird witches, gruesome ghosts, bloody battles and a forest that moves. Are you brave enough to see it?

Shakespeare 4 Kidz promise plenty of excitement with their stunning musical version of the play.

The company’s plays use the most famous lines from the original texts, weaves them into modern language, adds some song and dance into the mix and the result is a two-hour entertainment feast which everyone – even the youngest primary school children – can understand.

The whole plot is retained and all the major characters are there too, 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.

Many theatre folk believe the play to be jinxed and there has certainly been some evidence to that effect.

Playing the role of Macbeth for the third (and hopefully lucky!) time is Jason Lee Scott, who leads the 14-strong company.

When he played Macbeth in Stratford, Lady Macbeth had an accident and fractured her collar bone before the first night.

And at the Barbican he got stuck in a lift with the three witches and was rescued just in time to make his reappearance.

Lots of celebrities have sent the company good luck wishes, including Stephen Fry, King of the Jungle Joe Pasquale, and West End actor Jonathan Pryce, who had his own bad luck stories to tell after playing Macbeth.

Tickets cost £16, £9.50 for schools with a teacher free for every 10 booked. Call 01276 707600 or visit www.camberleytheatre.biz.

CLICK HERE to see this article on the Get Surrey website