Shakespeare in the Park: Macbeth

Celebrating twenty years of park performances, Shakespeare’s popular tragedy, Macbeth, is 2020’s production for the annual Bard fest, to be held from February 5-8, 2020, in Queens Park, Invercargill.

Produced by Great South and presented by the Shakespeare in the Park Charitable Trust, the production will feature a cast of locals, joined by Auckland actor, Mike Edward, who will take on the much coveted lead role.

Edward's television credits include roles in “Spartacus”, “Ash vs Evil Dead”, “Roman Empire”, “Shortland St” and recently “Filthy Rich” and “Power Rangers”, while highlights in theatre include “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Merchant of Venice” at the Pop up Globe; “The Country Wife” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Court Theatre; “Chicago” and “Cabaret” with Auckland Theatre Company and “Macbeth” with Silo Theatre.

Great South’s creative projects manager, Angela Newell, will direct and manage the event, in association with the Shakespeare in the Park Charitable Trust.

The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular, with many people having read or performed it at school.

Featuring supernatural elements such as “The Weird Sisters”, themes of ambition and lust for power, the journey from sanity to insanity and a final on-stage battle between the main characters, the play promises an exciting experience for both audiences and performers.

A licensed bar will be available and audiences are encouraged to bring picnics, deck chairs or rugs and are reminded to dress warmly, as it can get chilly in the park after 8pm. Some seating will be available on a "first come, first served" basis.

Door sales will be available, but pre-sales may be purchased from the Invercargill i-SITE or Eventfinda.

While Shakespeare is usually suitable for all ages, and is free for school-aged students, there is violence and blood in the production, so audiences are asked to use their discretion if considering bringing very young children. To help "deconstruct" this feature, we invite parents and caregivers to bring their children backstage to look at how we will be using fake blood, weapons etc. This will help children understand the "make-believe" elements of theatre.

Further information and updates may be found on the Shakespeare in the Park NZ's Facebook page.
From Thursday February 6 to Saturday February 8, any performances that cannot be performed outside will transfer to the Scottish Hall, 112 Esk Street, Invercargill