Macbeth Retold is an exciting, reimagined telling of the Shakespeare story written by Martin Riley. Aimed at people from age 14, this unique piece of theatre will spell-bind lovers of both chamber music and Shakespeare, but as importantly reach out to new audiences, and be suitable for production in accessible, small settings and by small ensembles. Dramatic content is be led by Helen Woods, a composer, music animateur, musical director and performer in collaboration with the Mavron Quartet creating a score to accompany Martin’s script.

Cosmic Music involved young people in the initial rehearsals and collaboration stage to allow testing of what engages and excites them, how they can realistically contribute to performance and what their contribution might change. As well as using this testing to develop the piece it also showed the young people just what they can achieve, and the creative potential that is in live performance. Music has been developed alongside the dramatic content in collaboration between the storyteller (Martin), the composer and animateur (Helen) and the Mavron Quartet.

The young people will then build on this, given opportunities to play roles in the drama, choosing between options within the music, commenting and contributing ideas. Macbeth Retold will then go on to a variety of small settings, schools and community venues, at festivals, literary and musical events and into educational settings, reaching audiences not used to live performance or chamber music. Audiences will participate in the storytelling, making each performance different and engaging, shining a new light on the study of Shakespeare for those in education, and exciting those whose perception had been that is was boring.

Sponsors

This project is kindly supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Active, Alive & Kicking and Memo Arts Centre.