Being blessed with warm and dry early spring weather made the thought of outdoor theatre a less daunting prospect. To add to the authenticity of the experience I was glad to attend a daytime matinee, as indeed would have those audiences when Macbeth first played over 400 years ago. The Pop-up Globe International creators have got it just right from the amazing construction and decoration of the actual theatre to the stunning costuming and stage effects. The program on sale gives so much information about the venture, and it is easy to be in awe of what has been developed over the last few years.
Director Tom Mallaburn has conjured a clear and brisk telling of the tragedy of Macbeth. In the lead role is Stephen Lovatt who gives a quietly commanding performance which still managed to fill the space in this special venue. Amanda Billing plays Lady Macbeth with a very defined different energy to husband. She is not a still woman, and this works well when covering and explaining Macbeth’s action and doubts. She is not shrewish or calculating and her “out damn’d spot” speech was very effective. They seemed an ill-matched couple which sat well with me – she being the more passionate one in this relationship.
Greg Johnson is impressive as Duncan and has a great turn later on as The Porter, the comic business in that scene really “connecting” with the audience. It is quite something to be seen to be believed. Hugh Sexton (Seyton/Murderer) is a menacing spectre throughout and in contrast Jason Will’s Banquo is sympathetic. Although only a short scene Serena Cotton captivates as Lady Macduff – the staging of her murder vicious and as bloody as the ensuing battle. Matu Ngaropo touches the heart in his lament for the death of his family and Blake Kubena as Malcolm is suitably and justifiably revengeful. The icing on the cake were the three 
witches (Mia Landgren, Julia Guthrey and Romy Hooper). Distinct in their colouring and vocal work they still managed to move as one entity. Neither hags nor vapid spirits they sang, leapt and swayed mesmerically focused on the audience, all the while on hand tasked to clean up the mess on stage and despatch many a corpse to the afterlife.
The creative team get all the mileage they can out of the effects and this audience delighted in the carnage and gore. Be it your first time seeing Macbeth or years since you studied it, this production is unmissable. It runs for two hours and a half (with interval) so most of the dialogue has been kept. Outdoors Shakespeare on a grand scale as it should be.
Mark G Nagle – Theatre Now
