Play Review: The Tragedy of Macbeth

Probably not about to be sponsored by the Scottish Tourist Board, this sparsely staged theatre play looks at ambition, inheritance and honour in a Scottish setting. It externalises the troubled consciences of the almost reluctant murderer, Lord Macbeth and his vastly more ambitious and competent wife, Lady Macbeth. While there is some beautiful (if occasionally unconvincing) poetry, the language is intermittently spoilt by the playwright’s reliance on cliché (eg ‘is this a dagger I see before me’ ‘the milk of human kindness’ ‘out damn spot, out I say!’ etc). There are some nice wind effects, umpteen ghostly scenes, sleepwalking adventures, and the litres of blood spilled quotient should please both Goth and Zombie fans. I can’t find any twitter account linked to this play – a fatal omission on the part of the playwright – so I presume it will disappear without trace.