St John’s College School has recently become involved with the Shakespeare Schools Festival (SSF), last year’s offering of The Tempest marking the first year of participation, but it has become a highlight of the school calendar. Months of rehearsal went into this year’s Macbeth, which a selection of St John’s Sixth Formers performed to a packed Mumford Theatre on 13 November. The result was an undeniably ‘spellbinding’ piece of theatre which ‘captivated the audience throughout’, described by parents as ‘powerful and tremendously exciting’ and a ‘tour de force’, and which prompted SSF regional organizer Michael Tucker to comment that ‘it brought a freshness and a depth to the text that [he had] not seen this Festival’.
Shakespeare’s great tragedy chronicles the rise and demise of the Scottish warrior Macbeth who, after hearing the prophecy that he will become king, engineers his own succession with the help of his ruthless wife. Fears that he will be succeeded by the sons of his friend Banquo rather than his own, as predicted in the second part of the prophecy, are allayed when he has his former comrade-in-arms brutally murdered. Responding to the unrest amongst Scotland’s noble families, the good Macduff readies the English army to overthrow the tyrant on the throne. Macbeth, wracked with fear and doubt after being visited by the ghost of Banquo but armed with the prophecy that no-one of woman born can kill him, sets out to meet them head on. Macduff seeks out Macbeth on the battlefield and, revealing that he was not of woman born but ‘from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripp’d’, slays Macbeth.
One of the most intriguing elements of the production was the choice to set the story in Edo-era Japan. Established through intricate costume-design and make-up, this new perspective drew inspiration from the strict social hierarchy and unique Samurai culture prevalent in such a fascinating period in history and focused the audience’s attention on the themes of fealty, respect, duty, status and military strength present in Shakespeare’s work. The haunting and evocative musical accompaniment, compared by many parents to a film soundtrack in its quality and perfect partnership with the action, was another striking feature, lending an especial tension and a certain unnerving quality to the play’s darker moments. Amongst many impressive performances, particular mentions must be made of the leading characters: Lady Macbeth was ‘chillingly evil’ in her role, delivering her lines with an understated menace that perfectly articulated the ruthless drive of this formidable woman; Macduff was fully rounded-out, both as a heartbroken father and husband as well as a ferocious warrior bent on revenge; and in Macbeth the audience was treated to a powerfully moving picture of a man desperately torn between love for his comrades and his ambitions for the throne, deteriorating from the brave and well-loved warrior into a broken man crippled by his feelings of guilt and regret.
The single most remarkable aspect of the production however was the performance of the ensemble as a whole, which was described by one parent as ‘perfection’. Using just a number of sticks and a single piece of rope, cast-members created the wildernesses, battlefields, castles and forests, and drew attention to the underlying themes of mysticism, magic and fate. This demonstrated precision, discipline and outstanding teamwork skills that belied their years, and highlighted for one parent how this production ‘really brought out the best in all the cast members, [not just those in leading roles but] those in supporting roles and those who delivered just one line,’ and all of whom ‘spoke with great confidence and [were] audible only two rows from the back.’
The experience proved a memorable one for pupils involved. ‘It really increased my knowledge and understanding of Shakespeare and it has inspired me to go and see as much Shakespeare as possible,’ remarked one pupil, ‘and it has also helped increase my self-confidence.’ Another pupil commented, ‘I achieved something I thought I would never do: one, to be in a Shakespeare performance; and two, to find it fun!’ Sentiments were summed up by another sixth-former: ‘I will always remember this mind-blowing experience.’ The educational benefits of the process were clear for parents, who were not only ‘struck [by] the depth of [the children’s] knowledge and understanding of the play,’ but impressed by the way ‘all the children truly interacted on stage which is such a tough skill to teach and is the hallmark of good acting.’ In addition to the wonderful acting on stage this event provided a great opportunity for a St John’s pupil, Cameron Mackenzie, to design and operate the lights in a professional theatre. He received great support from the technical team at the theatre but when the play started he was on his own and in charge of all the lighting changes. After the event he positively glowed with pride!
A thoroughly moving spectacle from start to finish, St John’s production of Macbeth was ‘a joy to behold’ and proved to be a ‘gripping, compelling [and] passionate… feast for the eyes’ which will not soon be forgotten.