Image is courtesy of Mill Theatre.

Arriving in Dundrum on a gloomy Wednesday morning, I was greeted by an incredibly enthusiastic team in the Mill Theatre, who could not have been more helpful or accommodating. In the audience, I sat alone, surrounded by three or four different groups of school kids, all studying Macbeth for their Leaving Cert, and now preparing to witness the play put to life in front of them. Coming in at a runtime of just over two hours, this performance of the bard’s Macbeth was a true achievement in adapting a 17th century play with a 21st century twang.

First and foremost, the cast deserve recognition. Taking place in a vaguely post-apocalyptic setting, Ruairi Lenaghan’s performance as the titular Macbeth was standout, capturing both the suave, populist side of the king, as well as the deeply sinister, malicious aspect. To compliment both his noble and irredeemable sides, Lenaghan acts against Ben Waddell as Banquo and Jenny Fennessy as Lady Macbeth. Waddell’s performance serves as a wonderfully collected contrast to the explosive, and oftentimes maniacal Lenaghan, further driving home the widening gorge between the two characters. The on-stage chemistry he has with Fennessy is electric, as her character attempts to push him towards a direction of greater evil. A stand out scene for all three of them is the banquet – Lenaghan, demanding peace from the sinister presence of Waddell’s ghost, and Fennessy wholly reprimanding her husband’s behaviour. Lastly, mention must be made to Eoghan Collins, who plays Macduff, for his incredibly emotional performance as the character, serving as a distinct foil for the Scottish King.

Whilst the banquet scene jumps to mind as a highlight of the whole show, primarily for Lenaghan’s performance, I took a particular fancy to the scene where he confronts the Weird Sisters in their lair. The Witches themselves are spectacularly crafted – with their lines pre-recorded and faces covered, they are given great liberty for creative experimentation, with lighting, choreography, and sound design. The actors playing the Witches remain totally anonymous, oftentimes there are five or six of the cast in costume, ready to appear from the back of the stage immediately after one disappears off stage. Whilst simple, this creates the impression that these witches are truly otherworldly, and has a distinctly unsettling effect.

With the superb lighting, sound design, excellent cast, great choreography, and solid direction from Geoff O’Keeffe, this performance of Macbeth at the Mill Theatre in Dundrum is highly recommended by me, both for fans of the play itself and for those seeking an accessible introduction to the work of Shakespeare overall.