CityLife

This is a very modern production which puts Macbeth in the 20th century. Me and my 60+ friends were very impressed at this fast paced brilliant production. All the young people present will never forget their first Shakespeare and for this the producer should be congratulated. Been going to the Exchange for 25 years and this ranks as one of the very best productions I have seen. Everyone was as skilled as they will ever be and should be proud of themselves.<br />

From begining to end it was fast paced and never had you waiting for the interval. The weird sisters seemed to knit the scenes together initially they are young innocent children watching cartoons, when after that innocence is ripped from them they develop into almost ethereal characters weaving their evil throughout. If you haven't seen it yet, get yourself down tto the Royal Exchange for a ride you will not forget in a hurry. We sat on the banquette seats and I am glad we did, it made you feel even closer to the action and even part of it.......as for the Obama comment...you will just have to go and watch it<br />

Saw the play on Friday - thought it was abrilliantly realised production. Nicholas Gleave as Macbeth was fantastic - a broody menacing presence in the first half who has to be egged on to ever more bloody ambition by his wife. In the second half he revels in escalating carnage becoming more and more detached from reality. Most women in the audience perked up when he showered to wash the blood from his hands and conscience!<br /> <br /> Hilary Maclean was brilliant as the initally almost WAGish Lady Macbeth. She was an exercise in ruthless ambition with killer heels. She started off as the would be power behind the throne bfore becoming unhinged after the murder of the King. It was a neat contrast to her power and mental state diminishing as Macbeth seems to become more powerful during the play.<br /> <br /> The girls who played the weird Sisters were amazing - starting off as girls playing on their bunkbeds before unspeakable brutality was visited upon them. Each subsequent scene with them in was even more disturbing.<br /> <br /> Overall a very modern reinterpretion with an added resonance in these daysof random violence.<br />