Tragedy and bloodshed comes to Bingley Arts Centre (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Tragedy and bloodshed comes to Bingley Arts Centre

9:30am Friday 18th May 2012 in News By Emma Clayton, Leisure and Lifestyle Editor

Bingley Little Theatre’s stirring production of Macbeth – or ‘the Scottish Play’ if you’re reading this in a theatre – continues this weekend.

Directed by Jonathan Scott, the play is described as an action-packed, exciting rendition of Shakespeare’s tragedy about the lust for power and its bloody repercussions.

It is, of course, the tale of a heroic Scottish general and his successful but ill-fated quest for the throne of Scotland.

Macbeth (Paul Chewins) and fellow-general Banquo (David Elder) are visited by three witches who reveal a prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, then King of Scotland. Lady Macbeth (Louise Button) persuades her husband to murder King Duncan (Peter Hall) and become King sooner, rather than later, setting off a series of bloody deeds, as Macbeth’s ambition grows.

“My initial reaction, when asked to direct Macbeth, was one of elation,” says Jonathan. “I love Shakespeare and this is, in my opinion, one of his best plays.

“There are those who have a pathological dislike for all things ‘Bardic’, those who openly acknowledge that they have no idea what the plays and words mean, those who expect Shakespeare to be performed in a certain way, others who expect each production to be different and those who will always question your ideas.

“So I decided that our production should concentrate on the core themes and would be much more effective that way than trying to achieve some deeper, more subjective meaning.”

He adds: “I have been blessed with some brilliant actors and technical staff in this production.”

As reported in the T&A this week, 92-year-old Mary Newton is reprising her role of one of the three witches which she first played in a BLT production of Macbeth in 1949. Go Mary!

Macbeth is on at Bingley Arts Centre until tomorrow. Ring (01274) 519814.