NATIONAL THEATRE TOUR OF RUFUS NORRIS’ NEW PRODUCTION OF

MACBETH

To visit Theatre Royal Nottingham 22-26 January 2019 as part of an 18-venue tour of the UK and Ireland

Following its sold-out London run, the National Theatre is currently touring Shakespeare’s most intense tragedy, Macbeth. This epic and visually daring production will visit the Theatre Royal Nottingham from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 January as part of an 18-venue tour of the UK and Ireland.

Sleep no more…The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are thrust towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness.

Directed by NT Artistic Director Rufus Norris (Cabaret, London Road) and designed by Rae Smith (War Horse, This House) this new production propels Shakespeare’s classic title into a post-apocalyptic world of anarchy and uncertainty.

Scottish actor Michael Nardone (BBC One’s The Night Manager and Rellik, HBO’s Rome) will play the title role, with Kirsty Besterman (Genesis Inc. at Hampstead Theatre, They Drink It in The Congo at the Almeida Theatre, and BBC One’s Father Brown) joining the cast as Lady Macbeth.

The 19-strong touring ensemble is Kirsty Besterman (Lady Macbeth), Joseph Brown (Malcolm), Elizabeth Chan (Witch), Nisa Cole (Fleance), Reuben Johnson (Doctor), Helen Katamba (Murderer), Tom Mannion (Duncan & Siward), Brad Morrison (Murderer), Michael Nardone (Macbeth), Hauk Pattison (Murderer), Evelyn Roberts (Witch & Boy), James Robinson (Lennox), Patrick Robinson (Banquo), Duncan Ross (Ensemble), Rachel Sanders (Ross), Olivia Sweeney (Witch & Gentlewoman), Deka Walmsley (Porter), Ross Waiton (Macduff), and Lisa Zahra (Lady Macduff).

Michael Nardone played Frisky in BBC One’s Emmy Award-winning series The Night Manager. His work on stage includes the Duke of Cornwall in King Lear at the National Theatre directed by Sam Mendes; and the title role in Peribanez at the Young Vic directed by Rufus Norris. On television he has also appeared as Jonas in BBC One’s Rellik; as DCI Whiteside in BBC Scotland’s River City and as Mascius in HBO’s Rome. Alongside appearances in Genesis Inc. at Hampstead Theatre, They Drink It in The Congo at the Almeida Theatre, and BBC One’s Father Brown, Kirsty Besterman’s credits include Diana in Tipping the Velvet at the Lyric Hammersmith, and Lady Croom in the UK tour of Arcadia.

Set design by Rae Smith, associate set design by Aaron Marsden, costume design by Moritz Junge, tour lighting design by Paul Pyant, associate tour lighting design by Ed Locke, tour movement direction by Cydney Uffindell-Phillips, music by Orlando Gough and Marc Tritschler, sound design by Paul Arditti, associate sound design by Mike Winship, and fight direction by Kev McCurdy. The associate director is Liz Stevenson.

Macbeth is produced on tour by the NT, creators of War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Macbeth on Tour in partnership with Lloyds Bank Private Banking. Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s cross-border touring programme and by The Royal National Theatre Foundation.

LOCAL LISTINGS INFORMATION:

National Theatre’s MACBETH

Theatre Royal Nottingham

Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 January 2019

Tue – Sat evenings 7.30pm, Thursday matinee 2pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm

£10 – £34.50 plus discounts for Royal Members*, Under 16s, 16-25 year olds, Schools, and Groups www.trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555

*Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham Royal Membership scheme offering ticket discounts, exclusive pre-sales, meet the cast nights and more www.trch.co.uk/membership

 

• Macbeth will tour to Oxford (8 – 12 January 2019), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (15 – 19 January 2019), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (22 – 26 January 2019), New Theatre, Hull (5 – 9 February 2019), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (12 – 16 February 2019), Theatre Royal, Glasgow (19 – 23 February 2019), Mayflower, Southampton (26 February – 2 March 2019), Grand Opera House, Belfast (5 – 9 March 2019), Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton (12 – 16 March 2019), and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (19 – 23 March 2019).

• In 2017 – 18 the NT toured 10 productions to 52 venues in 44 towns and cities around the UK for a total of 115 playing weeks.
  

• About Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre

For the National Theatre Rufus Norris has directed Macbeth (Olivier Theatre, 2018), My Country; a work in progress (Dorfman Theatre, 2017), Brecht and Weil’s The Threepenny Opera (Olivier Theatre, 2016), Everyman in a new adaptation by Carol Ann Duffy (Olivier Theatre, 2015), Behind the Beautiful Forevers by David Hare based on the book by Katherine Boo (Olivier Theatre, November 2015), The Amen Corner by James Baldwin (Olivier Theatre, 2013), Table by Tanya Ronder (The Shed, 2013), London Road by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork (Cottesloe Theatre 2011, Olivier Theatre 2012), Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka (Olivier Theatre, 2009) and Market Boy by David Eldridge (Olivier Theatre, 2006). His production of wonder.land, a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, which he co-created with Damon Albarn and Moira Buffini, with music by Damon Albarn and book and lyrics by Moira Buffini, opened at the National Theatre in December 2015 (having premiered at the Manchester International Festival earlier that year). Rufus was an Associate Director at the Young Vic from 2002 – 2007, where he has directed Feast by Yunior García Aguilera, Rotimi Babatunde, Marcos Barbosa, Tanya Barfield & Gbolahan Obisesan, Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre, adapted by Tanya Ronder, Herge’s Adventures of Tintin which he adapted with David Greig (Barbican, UK tour and West End), his own adaptation of Sleeping Beauty (Young Vic, Barbican, UK and international tour); Peribanez by Lope da Vega, in a version by Tanya Ronder and Afore Night Come by David Rudkin (Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award). Other work has included: Cabaret (Lyric Theatre 2006, Savoy Theatre 2012, also on tour 2013 and 2017); Clifford Odets’ The Country Girl (Apollo Theatre and tour); Les Liasons Dangereuses (Broadway: five Tony Award nominations); Festen, adapted by David Eldridge (Almeida, West End, on tour and on Broadway: Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Director) and Blood Wedding (Almeida). His earlier work included Dirty Butterfly and Two Women by debbie tucker green (Soho Theatre), Small Change by Peter Gill (Sheffield Crucible), Tall Stories (Battersea Arts Centre and Vienna Festival), Shakespeare’s The Tempest and The Lizzie Play by Deidre Strath (Arts Threshold), Sea Tongue (Huddersfield Contemporary Festival), Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge (Royal Court), My Dad’s Cornershop by Ray Grewal (Birmingham Rep), Mish Alla Ruman (Al Kasaba Theatre, Palestine) About the Boy by Ed Hime and Clubbed Out by Ezra Elia (Royal Court). He was director of Arts Threshold from 1993 – 95, and of Wink Productions from 1995 – 2000. Opera includes Doctor Dee, which he co-created with Damon Albarn (Manchester International Festival and ENO), and Don Giovanni (ENO). Rufus Norris’ debut feature film Broken premiered at Cannes in 2012 and won Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards in 2013. His feature film adaptation of London Road was released in 2015