Ralph Fiennes in Macbeth with Indira Varma - review with photos

Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort) and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) star in Shakespeare's great tragedy about guilt. Director Simon Godwin's production is adapted by Emily Burns and set in a modern war zone. The set design is by Frankie Bradshaw. The cast also features Steffan Rhodri, Ben Turner, Lucy Mangan, Danielle Fiamanya, and Lola Shalam.
Reviewer Paul Seven loved the two stars but what did he think of the war zone setting and the non-theatrical venue Dock X?
Macbeth can be seen at Dock X until 23 March 2024 and then in Washington DC from 5 April until 5 May.
There are UK cinema screenings in May 2024. Details from www.macbethincinemas.com/
Production photos in this video review are by Mark Humphrey and Marc Brenner
Paul paid for his ticket.
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[@markharris1125]

Oh dear, my heart sank when you talked about the seats. They're not that bad, are they? Will my bad back thank me for a trip to Docklands in three weeks? Or do I just need to fill up with ibuprofen? I knew it would be a winner: I saw Indira Varma in Present Laughter, keeping up with Andrew Scott and being absolutely heart-breaking. I saw her in the awful Seagull, where she was the only one to emerge with any credit. (I know, other opinions are available.) I saw Ralph Fiennes in Antony & Cleopatra at the National - another Shakespeare play set in a modern war zone. He and Sophie Okenedo were just magnificent. I saw him at The Bridge in some awful one-man show about Covid - as if we hadn't had enough of that for a year - but the unjust restrictions were being lifted and theatres were struggling to open and I wanted to give my support. Even he couldn't make the material palatable but he certainly gave it his all. So one hit each, one miss each, bound to be good!

[@mariaclarke2018]

I always go to hear your reviews as I find them to honest and informative. We had already booked for this performance and it was good to know that we should be taking cushions to sit on. Seems an uncomfortable venue and the leg room well that’s a big issue for me as you end up being contorted which is not good for the back. Thank you for your review .

[@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven]

Thank you.

[@filmsociety1311]

I saw the production at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh. I tend to find Shakespeare's tragedies particularly hard to comprehend, but I thoroughly enjoyed this production.

[@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven]

I agree. I probably should have emphasised more how easy to follow it is.

[@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven]

Hi Mark. Those two certainly deliver the goods. The seats are made from cheap bendy plastic with no decent back support and minimal seat padding. As to legroom, I sat with my legs wide apart and was okay but I’m only average height.

[@markharris1125]

I wonder if they'll let me take in a cushion . . . I was imagining a bench-type arrangement, not waiting room chairs.

[@jasonthewatchmansson8873]

Scotland is not a war-torn country in Macbeth. It is at war at the beginning (against Norway) and at the end (against Malcolm's invading forces). But for most of the play, there is no war, so it makes no sense for there to be the sounds of artillery fire. Also, how tiresome to have the 10,000th performance in a "modern" setting.

[@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven]

You make a good point. I didn’t mind that they wore modern dress but it was a bit odd for them to fight with swords rather than guns, when there was artillery exploding all over the place. Great acting though.

[@red4070]

Could it be that the artillery is meant to be in Macbeth's head? Fiennes convinced me of Macbeth's delicate mental state and the battle noises to me are meant to be a kind of PTSD. 10,000th or not, Shakespeare's work in our modern world is as relevant as it's ever been.

[@user-jp5ip6qb5b]

I want to comment. St. Gertrude the great. Pray for us. Holy souls has increased in their numbers. Pray with the pope francis. Pray for us mother Mary. ❤ Sabina