Earlier this term, I went to see my first live performance of Macbeth. The Loft theatre in Leamington Spa hosted its production from October 25^th until November 4^th. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, particularly for its strong cast and the wonderful set. Although I had frustrations at times with how Macbeth the character lacked a nuanced emotional arc, the overall eery atmosphere of the play was a wonderful one to be immersed into, and I was particularly fond of the complexity of Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff and how they were acted.

I wouldn’t have known about this production if it weren’t for the IATL module I take, the Local/Global Shakespearience. I didn’t even know about The Loft until my classmates and myself were to go and see Macbeth as part of the syllabus. At this point in term, we were exploring how malleable a text Macbeth is, while studying this performance as a case study for exploring how Macbeth gets adapted on local and global scales. Getting to discuss this production alongside international film adaptations was really insightful, particularly as we got to have a Q&A with the production’s director, David Fletcher.

Despite studying theatre, I am continuously welcoming the departure from the conventional theatre studies approach. From game adaptations to Yosemite adaptations to experimenting with podcasting, I’m encouraged to critically approach Shakespeare in ways I hadn’t previously considered, and with students from varying departments whom I wouldn’t otherwise collaborate with. I appreciate getting to explore environmental, cultural, and historical contexts of Shakespeare that expand far beyond the UK. This is the definition of Shakespeare being made more accessible, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next. I would encourage everyone to support their local Shakespeare productions, and to see what is out there on a wider scale too.

by Gemma Short, (3rd year Theatre & Performance Studies)