Within the walls of an old, deconsecrated church, an epic battle rages. With sword drawn and battle armour ready, Macbeth leads his soldiers to war.
As the metallic sound of swords begins to fade, a victorious Macbeth (played by Kenneth Branagh) emerges from battle and begins his journey home with companion Banquo in tow. Along the way, the two encounter a trio of witches who prophesise that Macbeth will become first the Thane of Cawdor and eventually king. When their first prophecy comes true, he hatches a murderous plot to seize the throne from King Duncan – and so begins Shakespeare’s epic tale of ambition and murder most foul.
Filmed during a live performance at the Manchester International Festival, Macbeth is the first of a new series of plays and musicals being brought to Australian screens courtesy of National Theatre Live. They offer a great way to get a taste of that live theatre experience, without the higher ticket prices.
The old church setting complements the play very well. A stone altar serves as a small stage, while the audience is divided among the pews which line the central walkway of the church. The building’s high stone walls and coloured glass windows create a castle-like atmosphere and the actors make good use of the small area. Energetic battle scenes are played out on the central walkway as soldiers fight their way past the audience, while other cast members deliver their lines from balconies and raised stages.
Branagh delivers a strong performance as Macbeth, the once-loyal soldier driven to the brink of insanity by his insatiable need for power, while Alex Kingston (ER, Dr Who) shines as Lady Macbeth, whose own desire for power eventually becomes her undoing. Both clearly relish their roles, delivering emotional performances as their characters descend into their own personal madness. The three witches are entertaining, but their distorted voices and fast delivery make it difficult to understand most of their lines.
Costumes are beautifully detailed and wonderfully authentic, from Macbeth’s battle armour and Lady Macbeth’s flowing gowns, to the servants’ drab-coloured rags; everything is immaculately presented.
While watching a film of a live play takes some getting used to, this format enables the film-maker to explore different camera angles, adding a new dimension to the performance. Directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh, Macbeth is sure to delight Shakespeare fans, but others may find the film a little long.
NT Live’s Macbeth is showing for a short season at Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, with screenings this weekend (November 1-2).
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