The dark Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth has set up stage at Stafford Castle for the 28th Stafford Festival Shakespeare
Once again Stafford Castle was the perfect backdrop for this year’s Shakespeare production.
As the performance time approached the characters made their way out onto the stage, with music playing, a live bird of prey and children playing the show began….
This dark Shakespeare story is about Macbeth (Bil Stuart), one of King Duncan of Scotlands army generals.
Macbeth happens upon three haunting witches who tell Macbeth of their vision, that he will murder King Duncan and rule the land.
Along with his wife, Macbeth plans and carries out the murder of King Duncan so that he may inherit the kingdom.
Stuart was an excellent casting, enchanting the audience with his kindness and goodness but also taking them down to see the dark side of Macbeth’s character.
Lady Macbeth’s (Rosie Hilal) character, like her husband, took a swing from a woman of power and persuasion to a distraught soul, besieged by visions of her past wrongdoings.
The three witches were played by Sian Mannifield, Mairi Hawthorn and Nicola Jo Cully and they had the audience hooked on their chants and dancing, far from the vision I had of them in long black cloaks and pointy hats.
With a fantastic supporting cast the show did not dissapoint. The mixture of props, instruments and impressive sound effects all added to the tangible feel of the show.
As the virtual curtain came down on the show the crowd showed their gratitude with rapturous applause, the stage was dark with Stafford Castle magically illuminated in the background.
As the audience filed out of the makeshift theatre a lone piper played as we descended from the castle to begin our journeys home.
Macbeth runs until the 14th July and we wholeheartedly recommend that you grab a ticket, you won’t be disappointed.
Parking at the castle is simple and easy, using a field to the right as you drive into the castle’s access road. You can then take either the short walk up through the trees or hop on the provided shuttle bus to the foot of the castle.
There’s a fully licensed bar as well as an ice cream and sweet outlet.
The ground is hilly and uneven, so sensible footwear is recommended. There is disabled access with dedicated space for wheelchair users.
The temporary theatre space is made up of 3 stands, A, B and C which wrap around the central stage. Stand A is a wheelchair accessible stand and depending on the weather you may have the sun shining in your eyes at the start of the performance, Stand B faces directly at the stage, with the castle behind. Stand C is the final seating option and faces Stand A, you therefore don’t have the sun in your eyes but may find it shady and cooler. All stands are covered so you should be OK if a shower hits!
Despite the fact that we’re in the middle of a heatwave the recommendation is to take warm clothing with you. A jumper, fleece or cardigan will save you shivering, especially in the second half as the temperature begins to drop! Optionally take a cushion for your bum and a blanket for your legs, especially if you’re someone who feels the cold!
