The Scottish Play
- a powerful and impressive interpretation

This term's production of Macbeth was somewhat of a departure from the more traditionally staged Shakespeare plays at Hurst; an intriguing soundtrack of heartbeats, weather, drips, bumps and electronic music, together with mysterious, projected black and white moving images, ensured that the power of the supernatural was never far away.

The pace was cracking, yet never hurried;  the acting outstanding. James Rothwell’s Macbeth, dressed all in black, was strong and sensitive. His immediate horror at murdering the king as he cowered on the floor was very evident;  the audience felt genuinely sorry for him.  His determination to go into battle at the end with all the odds stacked against him was curiously impressive.  Jemima Henstridge-Blows’ Lady Macbeth was graceful and manipulative.  The chemistry between the two leads - the little touches such as the subtle eye contact - made this production so powerful.

Finally, there’s Malcolm and Macduff, both of whom drove the story forward.  Harry Hitchins as Macduff was masterful.  The horror that enveloped him as he heard of his family’s cruel slaughter was utterly believable and his final encounter with Macbeth has sparks flying in more ways than one!   If the play charts Macbeth’s personal tragedy, then so too is it the journey of Malcolm’s coming of age.  His self-discovery was poignant and appealing, and was played with immense sensitivity by Josh Fowler who stepped in at the last minute to take on the role.

Mr Scott 's first Shakespeare play at Hurst was a genuinely stunning production.