Old College Quad
Theatre
2-13 Aug, 10:30pm-11:30pm

Outdoor spectacular Macbeth: Who Is That Bloodied Man? marks the welcome re-opening of historic Old College Quad, following extensive renovations and an archaeological dig lasting a couple of years.  In the past, the quad’s played host to a series of visually-stunning large-scale events – and its university custodians have chosen an ideal show to mark their return to the fray.  Polish company Teatr Biuro Podrozy tick all of the boxes for enticing al-fresco amazement: fire, stilts, motorbikes, a comfortingly familiar plot, and that slight sense of artistic bamboozlement that often accompanies a free-handed interpretation of Shakespeare.

At an hour long, this is clearly a highly-abridged version of the original play; in fact, Malcolm isn’t even in it, which obviously means a bit of a curve ball at the end.  What’s more, the actors deliver very little dialogue, so you’ll need a solid understanding of the storyline if you want to follow along.  But your effort will be rewarded by an unstoppable visual romp through the essence of the Scottish play – with potent imagery conjuring a vision of Macbeth’s looming madness, alongside echoes of the Holocaust or, perhaps, Poland’s own repressed past.

Critics might argue it’s a little on the safe side – after all, the company’s been touring this play for seven years, and it’s even appeared at Old College Quad before (back in 2007).  But that’s a quibble; a new audience should find plenty to enjoy in this stylised, portentous take on Shakespeare.  Or if you do prefer to live life dangerously, you could try Biuro Podrozy’s newer and weirder-sounding work Planet Lem, which takes over the quad from the 16th.

Image of Old College Quad courtesy Theoden sA.