Witches, Daggers, And Dark Ambition: Macbeth Takes The Stage

Macbeth

Macbeth Rating

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Director John Grinston delivers a compelling interpretation of Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, Macbeth, which follows the dark and ambitious rise of a Scottish general who murders his way to the throne, spurred on by his equally ruthless wife.

The production’s minimalist set – featuring a cloudy backdrop and simple, unchanging props – places the focus squarely on the actors and the power of Shakespeare’s words. While this approach demands strong performances to maintain audience engagement, the cast largely succeeded in bringing energy and verve to their roles.

Shakespearean dialogue, with its dense 11th-century language, can be notoriously difficult to render fluently. However, several actors navigated it with skill, making the text feel natural and immersive. Dimitri Armatas (Banquo) was particularly outstanding, delivering a consistently engaging and authentic performance. A standout moment came from Micah Doughty as Seyton, who stumbled in from a drunken night, weaving through the audience before joining his companions onstage. His delivery, in full Shakespearean fluency, was both amusing and believable, offering a rare moment of levity in the otherwise dark narrative.

 

As Macbeth, Jack Taylor handled the immense demands of the role well, especially considering this was his first Shakespearean performance. He had moments of true greatness, portraying Macbeth’s descent into tyranny with conviction.

Yvette Gillies played Lady Macbeth with admirable command, though her casting opposite a much younger Macbeth was an interesting choice. Indeed, some productions have depicted Lady Macbeth as older, emphasising her ambition, influence, and almost maternal guidance over her husband. Gillies’ Scottish accent was a welcome addition, lending authenticity to her portrayal, though it did contrast sharply with the rest of the cast, who spoke in more neutral tones.

Veteran actors David Stewart-Hunter (King Duncan) and John Benjamin (Doctor) added a seasoned presence to the production, bringing gravitas to their roles. Meanwhile, the trio of witches – Jasna Mars, Poppy Cozens, and Julie Burns – delivered some of the most engaging scenes of the night. Their cauldron scene, revealing the fateful prophecy that “no man born of woman can defeat him,” was particularly well-executed, creating an eerie, mystical atmosphere that resonated with the audience.

The Audience and Venue:
Opening night drew a predominantly older crowd, with more than half of attendees appearing to be over 50 or 60 – perhaps due to the presence of the actors’ families and longtime Genesian patrons. Shakespearean theatre may have a stronger appeal to older audiences, but productions like this have the potential to engage younger viewers as well.

 

More young people should experience Shakespearean theatre, as Macbeth remains strikingly relevant. While language and idioms have evolved, human nature has not, and the themes of unchecked ambition, moral corruption, and fate still captivate modern audiences. For students studying Macbeth, seeing it performed live provides an invaluable perspective on the play’s intricate dynamics.

The Genesian Theatre, at 2B Gordon Street, Rozelle, offers a viewing experience with well-tiered seating ensuring clear sightlines. The venue is air-conditioned (with two split systems), making for a pleasant atmosphere, as long as they remain on. The bathroom facilities are well-maintained, and the bar is excellent. Parking in the surrounding streets can be challenging, so allow extra time to find a spot.

Final Verdict:
This Macbeth was an enjoyable and well-executed production with a commendable cast and crew. While some moments could have benefited from greater consistency in fluency and intensity, the strong performances – particularly from Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and the witches – made for an engaging evening of theatre. Grinston’s direction, combined with Shakespeare’s enduring themes, ensured that Macbeth still has the power to thrill and unsettle, centuries after it was first performed.

To book tickets to Macbeth, please visit https://genesiantheatre.com/

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

Opening Night Review: After Dinner

After Dinner

After Dinner Rating

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3

It’s Friday night at the pub. The stage is set as five lost souls, and a distracted waiter, embark on a quest. On the surface, they appear to have different agendas, but underneath the bravado, they all share a desperate need to feel a little less lonely in After Dinner.

Set in the late 1980s, where the fashion and daggy pub restaurant are practically characters in their own right, big points go to the production team for nailing the brief. Under the direction of Tim Riessen, the cast does a magnificent job delivering the dialogue and mannerisms that are intentionally stilted to demonstrate the awkwardness of their relationships and scenario.

Dympie (Kezia George of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and Hansel & Gretel), Paula (Lisa Divall of Short ‘n Sweet) and Monika (Amanda Alderson of Squid Games and Frankenbolt’s First Christmas) work in the same office, and had they not worked together, it is unlikely they would have socialised outside of work. The handsome Gordon (Altus Vernooy, making his stage debut from behind the scenes) and Stephen (Ian Fraser of Cracked and Done to Death) meet up at the pub through a mutual friend who never shows up. The waiter played by Tarek Jabado (Frankenbolt’s First Christmas and Under the Table) is a man of few words, but his looming presence (and often absence) is a steady shadow among the chaos.

 

With the ladies at one table and the men at the other, it doesn’t take long for them to notice each other, much to the dismay of the controlling Dympie, who just wanted a quiet Friday night with Paula.

Except this is no typical Friday night as Paula invites the grieving Monika, whose revelations into her marriage reveal a tirade of confronting and intimate truths. The exploration of adult themes and graphic nature of After Dinner suggests you might want to pick your theatre date carefully as some audience members may find the content uncomfortable.

Just as you need to break an egg to make omelette, the messy characters dissolve and then evolve, albeit subtly, as life often does before epiphanies set in.

Performed at the Roxy Lane Theatre just behind the Volare bar on Whately Crescent, this retro theatre is the perfect backdrop to the 1980s. Written in 1984 by Kalgoorlie-born playwright Andrew Bovell, who wrote Strictly Ballroom and Lantana, the fact that it’s still being performed decades later demonstrates the timeless theme of loneliness and the human condition. Poignant, funny and relatable, if the audience’s response to opening night is anything to go by, After Dinner will continue to leave a lasting impression for many more decades to come.

Performance dates: 7, 8, 9*, 14, 15, 16*, 20, 21, 22 & 23* March
Recommended MA 15+
Times: Evenings at 7.30pm, *Matinees at 2pm
Tickets: $23 adult, $19 concession, groups of 10+ $18 each

To book tickets to After Dinner, please visit TAZ Tix.

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

End Game: A Thought-Provoking Theatre Journey

End Game

End Game Rating

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2

Katie Reddin-Clancy’s Australian premiere of End Game is a bold and original dramedy that seamlessly blends theatre, comedy, and philosophical musings into an engaging experience at Adelaide Fringe in Victoria Park.

With her wit, impeccable accent work, and commanding stage presence, Reddin-Clancy takes audiences on an introspective yet often humorous journey through the afterlife, asking big existential questions: Why are we here? What truly matters in life?

At the heart of End Game is Joanie, an eccentric cabaret performer who arrives in the afterlife for her soul review. The stakes? Determining whether she’s learned the lessons of Earth School or simply gotten lost along the way. But the real mystery revolves around Eva—an unknown woman whose life was profoundly shaped by Joanie’s choices.

Reddin-Clancy, a seasoned global voiceover artist, brings each character to life with remarkable authenticity. While some British cultural references seemed to fly over the heads of the Australian audience, her commitment to character and storytelling kept the crowd engaged.

 

The script is cleverly written, balancing humour with deeper reflections on the ripple effects of our choices.

That said, End Game did face some external challenges. The venue’s lack of a microphone, combined with intrusive background noise from traffic and sirens, occasionally made it difficult to catch every word. Despite this, Reddin-Clancy’s stage presence remained captivating, and her storytelling prowess ensured that the emotional weight of the narrative was not lost.

Overall, End Game is a compelling and imaginative piece of theatre that invites audiences to reflect on their own life choices while being thoroughly entertained. As the show continues through the season, it may find an even more receptive audience ready to dive into its mix of humour, drama, and existential exploration.

To book tickets to End Game, please visit https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/end-game-af2025

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

The importance of being fruit

Fruition

Fruition Rating

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0

Well, this is an interesting, fun show. It’s comedy clowning at its best. It’s a rollicking, frolicking comedy about fruit, its position in society, and its relevance to the main character, Cherese.

We learn why fruit is fun, why she loves all fruit, and why she also loves us, the audience. The show consists of a variety of sketches that flow smoothly from one to another.

For Cherese Sonkkila, this is her debut Fringe show. She has plenty of energy, and it keeps flowing. Hopefully, we will see more work from she/her in the future.

The sketches have a variety of styles, from song and dance to monologues. There are costume changes off stage, although in a couple of places, the performances are a fraction too long. But it was opening night.

This is a show worth seeing. It is a fun event with some audience participation, which I normally don’t like, but I enjoyed it. So, get a ticket or several and take yourself to the Mill on Angas Street.

To book tickets to Fruition, please visit https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/fruition-af2025

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.