BARD FOR BEGINNERS

From the Dartford Times/Gravesend Reporter

AS one of only a few adults at a morning performance of Shakespeare 4 Kidz’ version of Macbeth at the Orchard Theatre last week, I was fascinated by the reactions of hundreds of primary school children, most of whom had probably never seen a Shakespeare play before, writes Mark Campbell.

From shrieks and whoops of excitement as the lights snapped off and thunder boomed around the auditorium to cries of “Eurgh!” at the sight of Mr and Mrs Macbeth kissing, they seemed entirely caught up in proceedings.

The only exception was the long scene between Malcolm and Ross in the second half, which really should have been chopped down by adapters Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett. But it was the only time the audience became restless.

Much of the more obscure language has been artfully updated, without losing the poetry. Thankfully, some of it – “Out, damned spot!”, “Is this a dagger I see before me?” – remains unchanged. After all, why change perfection?

Perhaps the hardest parts for an adult to cope with are the musical  digressions. Some advance the plot (Lady Macbeth’s Leave It All Up To Me), others appear crass (How Do You Murder a King with its campy Spamalot dance routine). Jason Lee Scott is a brooding Macbeth, paired with Emma Odell as his sexually voracious wife. Their moments together are brimming with as much Unresolved Sexual Tension as the producers can get away with.

Kirk Barker is a square-jawed Macduff, the eventual hero of the piece, while Benjamin Goodridge makes Banquo a gruff, soldierly type whose appearance as the bloody ghost at Macbeth’s banquet is suitably chilling.

Directed by Julian Chenery, an enormous amount of effort has gone into this production, which has clearly paid off. Captions helpfully tell you which scene you’re watching (if only all Shakespeare had this), Liam Devlin and Ben Adcock’s lighting and sound are integral to the show’s impact, and the comic performance of Noel Andrew Harron as the hungover Porter is sheer joy.