Something wicked this way comes as HER Productions, Girl Gang Manchester and Unseemly Women return for their 8th annual Shakespeare production and their first four stop tour.
Featuring their trademark all female and non-binary cast of emerging, local talent – Macbeth will open on June 5th at Shakespeare North before heading to Lancaster, Manchester and end in Huddersfield with a two-night run from July 2nd.
The women of war meet witchcraft, loss, life and power in this distinctly feminist and equally bloody take on one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies.
Macbeth is co-directed by Hannah Elis Ryan and Amy Gavin whose last joint venture – Taming of The “Shrew” – earned them a place in The Stage’s Top 50 Shows of 2024. “Shrew” will also return to the stage in May for its own mini tour following its critical acclaimed premiere last year. Marking the first time HER Productions will be in rehearsal for two shows simultaneously.
Playing Macbeth is Elaine McNicol who HER Production audiences may remember as Benvolio in their 2018 version of Romeo and Juliet. She is playing alongside Frankie Lipman as Lady Macbeth, Ciara Tansy as Macduff and Naomi Albans as Duncan. Completing the cast are Paryce Richards, Pavanveer Sagoo and Zoey Barnes as the Witches; with Lucy Enderby as Malcom, Miranda Parker as Porter & Hecate, Leila Uwimana as Banquo, Catherine Traveller as Ross, Naina Dhillon as Lady MacDuff and Laura Percival as Donalbain.
Co-founder of HER and Co-Director of Macbeth Hannah Ellis Ryan comments:
“Amy and I have so enjoyed pouring over the shadowy world of ‘Macbeth’ in preparation for our 2026 Shakespeare. We managed to place The Taming of the ‘Shrew’ in a female world and that’s exactly what we want to do with ‘Macbeth’. Most people, hilariously, find the Witches and Lady Macbeth the most memorable parts of the story, so for us, as women telling this story, we want to lean into that. The women of war. The cost of war. How it feels to raise children, birth them and then watch bodies pile up during war. This is the heartbeat of the story we want to tell.”
Macbeth opens at Shakespeare North Playhouse on June 5-7 followed by The Dukes, Lancaster from June 10 – 12; Hope Mill Theatre – June 18 – 29 and concludes at Huddersfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre – July 2 – 3
