Druid's 'Macbeth': a production you will not want to miss
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FOLLOWING soldout runs in Galway and Dublin in 2025, the prestigious Druid Theatre has relaunched a spring tour of its exhilarating production of
Playing in Galway’s Black Box Theatre, Limerick’s Lime Tree Theatre and Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, this acclaimed production brings a visceral and uniquely Irish perspective to Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. Directed by Garry Hynes and starring Marty Rea in the titular role, this is a theatre production you will not want to miss. I was fortunate enough to secure tickets to a show in Galway’s Black Box Theatre and I can honestly say the experience was nothing short of thrilling. Shakespeare enthusiasts will be relieved to hear that the story remains unchanged in this production and Druid Theatre has been entirely faithful to the original material. Set in medieval Scotland, the story follows the ambitious general, Macbeth, who, having received a prophecy from three witches, embarks on a doomed mission to claim the throne of Scotland.
Returning from a hard-won victory, Macbeth and his comrade Banquo are approached by three sinister witches in the wild heaths of Scotland. The witches tell Macbeth that he will be king of Scotland and that Banquo, too, shall father a line of kings. Though Banquo immediately doubts the trustworthiness of these characters, Macbeth finds himself positively stirred at the prospect of becoming king. Returning to his wife, who shares his ambition and ruthless desire for power, Macbeth tells her of the witches’ tale. Cunning and monstrously manipulative, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband that he must kill King Duncan and seize the throne for himself. From there, Macbeth sets out on a murderous mission that can only end in tragedy.
The cast in Druid’s Macbeth is simply spellbinding. Marty Rea brings a ferocious, feral energy to his performance as Macbeth. From his first appearance onstage, Rea demands your attention. Carrying the authority of an army general and the unpredictability of a wild beast, Rea’s portrayal of Macbeth is deeply layered and endlessly compelling. As the plot progresses, the insurmountable guilt and paranoia that plagues Macbeth are felt in every movement and every word of Rea’s incredibly physical performance. The gradual transformation from ambitious general to guilt-riddled murderer, to raving tyrant is a masterclass in acting.
Opposite Rea, Marie Mullen, co-founder of the Druid Theatre Company, stars as Lady Macbeth. Mullen’s performance is truly powerful and sure to leave a lasting impact on every audience. Brilliantly realising Lady Macbeth’s ruthless determination and manipulative nature, Mullen creates a fascinating character on the stage. Despite being an extraordinarily complicated and potentially challenging character to portray, Lady Macbeth’s undeniable humanity does not escape Mullen as she brings her to life with surprising vulnerability. With overwhelming guilt leading to madness and eventual suicide, Mullen’s Lady Macbeth makes for a hypnotic watch.
In the supporting cast, Seán Kearns stars as King Duncan, Rory Nolan as Banquo, Liam Heslin as Macduff and Emma Dargan-Reid, Emmett Farrell and Pattie Maguire as the Three Witches. There is not a weak link in this fine cast of actors, with even the most minor of characters being brought to life in electrifying fashion.
Garry Hynes’ direction is unsurprisingly exceptional. Though the play is over 400 years old, Hynes and co still manage to find fresh and exciting ways to breathe new life into . While remaining entirely faithful to Shakespeare’s words, a few interesting interpretations are made that really add to the impact of the drama. While I don’t want to spoil anything here, brilliant use is made of a crucifix hanging over the set that makes for exceptional imagery. Francis O’Connor’s set and co-costume design is also a standout. Opting for a minimal approach that still achieves the required effect, each scene is captured through a clever use of simple staging and lighting design.
The only negative comment I could make about Druid’s is the slow pacing of the first half. Of course, this is almost unavoidable and more so a flaw of the original script than this production. However, I did feel that while the first half dragged at times, the second half was far better paced and maintained an arresting energy from beginning to end. As the plot progressed, a tangible sense of dread and unease filled the Black Box theatre as the audience awaited the doomed fate of the characters.
What’s most impressive about Druid’s is how the cast and crew have taken words written 400 years ago and performed countless times since and yet make them feel just as relevant and meaningful today. If I could describe the energy in the theatre on the day in one word, it would be electric. Every prescient line landed with appropriate gravity, every joke was met with a laugh from the audience and every pivotal scene was enjoyed with bated breath. Druid’s is an extraordinary accomplishment of live theatre and is well worth the price of admission.
