S4K's Macbeth comes to the Ashcroft

Ashcroft
Friday, October 16, 2009, 07:00

Breathing new life into yet another dramatic classic are Shakespeare 4 Kidz, back in Croydon with their take on Macbeth.

The S4K gang, led by Julian Chenery, have gained a great reputation for making the bard's plays accessible to children (and some adults too!), meaning the genius of Shakespeare won't die out for future generations.

With mistaken identities, intrigue, twists and turns, Shakespeare plays certainly can be difficult to follow at first.

And that's why S4K aims to break down the barrier of Shakespeare being old fashioned and complex, to introduce children to the exciting stories underneath.

This time they're taking on Macbeth again, a gory and gruesome tale of how the Scottish warrior became King Macbeth.

Egged on by three wicked witches and his evil wife, Macbeth removes every obstacle in his way, no matter how bloody the battle, to become top dog in Scotland.

Macduff is played by local lad Kirk Barker, who was head boy at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom.

The S4K version is in its fifth tour and combines the most famous lines with modern language, music and dance to keep everyone in the audience gripped, no matter what their age.

A word of warning for those going to see Macbeth, though - the play is rumoured to be very unlucky and strange accidents and mishaps seem to befall companies who perform it. S4K have struggled themselves over the five tours with fractured skulls, Bell's Palsy and trips and falls.

Spooky!

S4K's Macbeth, Monday, October 19 at 1.30pm and 7.30pm, and Tuesday, October 20 at 10am and 1.30pm.

Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, tickets £16 adults and £9.50 children, go to www.fairfield.co.uk or call 020 8688 9291.