QTC is calling 'Macbeth' the original ‘Game of Thrones’ and this version of Shakespeare's tale is a dark epic of ambition, betrayal and murder.
Directed by Michael Attenborough, and presented in association with 40-year veteran Brisbane theatre troupe Grin & Tonic, the production boasts a colossal cast of 15 with Jason Klarwein and Veronica Neave starring as the royal couple. Klarwein has trained rigourously for this role and warns that there are no castles, Shakespearean costumes or fencing swords to be seen. Be prepared to witness a primal, brutal and violent retelling.
Describe Macbeth in five words? (the play or the man — you choose)
The play — thrilling, fraught, gut-wrenching, kickass fights, disturbing.
If Macbeth were alive today, what would he be doing and who would he be hanging out with?
Macbeth IS alive today. He runs North Korea, Syria and other places in which tyrants peddle fear as a tool on their narcissistic quest for power.
How have you prepared for such an iconic role? How do you make it your own?
Twofold — lots and lots of gym, cardio and dieting — Macbeth is a fierce and strategic warrior.
And by studying the text. The play is full of clues and techniques for the observant actor. My job is to find these and test them out with the director.
Your fav. line in the play and why?
"I 'gin to be a weary of the sun, and wish the estate of the world were now undone."
This line occurs in the last sequence of the play. It basically sums up everyone's experience of a 'bad day'.
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How is this production different to other incarnations of the play?
This is our production so inherently it will be different. There are no castles, Shakespearean costumes or fencing swords in ours. This is a primal, brutal, violent and rugged society.
What life lessons have you learnt from Shakespeare?
Shakespeare has truly encapsulated the whole of human experience. If you can think of it, he wrote about it. Shakespeare doesn't judge or dictate to an audience. If it is done well, it has an advantage over other texts because it has an inherent subliminal drive at its centre — the iambic pentameter. This drive, like music, can have an added atmospheric effect. Other life lessons are: don't kill your best friend or a king. Bad things will happen.
Can you talk us through a typical rehearsal?
Usually the day starts with an hour of fight training with our fight director Nigel Poulton. A shower, because that is very sweaty work. Then we would begin to look at detailing scenes within the play. We may spend up to two hours on a few pages making sure the feel, tone and craft is right. Lunch — which usually involves either an interview or costume fitting or brushing up on lines or emails. The afternoon is really more of the same detailed rigour.
The rest of the cast makes you feel... ?
Supported and excited. This cast is the cream of Brisbane theatre. They have all worked exceedingly hard on their parts and I'm excited by and for them because we have worked at a different depth for this show.
This is Grin & Tonic’s 40th birthday. How is the company celebrating?
We are celebrating with this production. This show epitomises the hard and rigorous work that Grin and Tonic is known for. I wanted to give something back to the audiences of Queensland who have been so supportive over the last four decades.
What are some of the highlights of the company’s 40 years we should know about?
Every year the company interacts and performs to over 60,000 students around Queensland and Northern NSW. As far north as the Daintree and as far west as Roma, Moranbah and Charters Towers. This experience is sometimes these students first interaction with theatre, literature or heightened language. To make this experience powerful and accessible and memorable is one of life's sweetest chores. Another thing I am most proud of, is the work that the troupe has done with youths in detention and refugees awaiting processing in Port Augusta during the Howard era.
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The audience will say .... as they leave the theatre?
"I need to tell my friends to get to this show before it closes in two weeks! Otherwise they'll kick themselves."
If you had a magic wand, you would change .....?
People's perceived ideas and notions about the theatre and Shakespeare.
Macbeth is like ...?
A psychological thriller/ horror that surpasses any DVD.
'Macbeth' will be staged at the Playhouse QPAC until April 13.
