by William Shakespeare
directed by Grace Edwards
“Something wicked this way comes...” – it’s Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most gripping, enduring, and (some say) cursed tales. A clash between honour and ambition sets our play in motion, as a Scottish commander encounters three mysterious witches whose prophecies invite him down a path of blood, betrayal, and psychological breakdown. Urged on by his ruthless wife, Macbeth murders his king and seizes the throne, only to find that power stolen by violence carries a terrible price. As the guilt from his traitorous act consumes him, Macbeth is haunted by ghosts, plagued by paranoia, and drawn ever deeper into a cycle of violence.
From the witches’ bubbling cauldron of “double, double toil and trouble”, to Lady Macbeth’s tormented plea of “out, damned spot!”, to Macbeth’s haunting lament that life is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”, this play brims with unforgettable moments that have captivated audiences for more than four centuries.
In this new production, the question of fate versus free will takes centre stage. From the moment the witches deliver their prophecy, we are drawn into the unnerving tension between our destinies, our desires, and our decisions. Was Macbeth an honourable man who tragically succumbed to temptation? A cruel figure repressing his true nature and waiting only for the right excuse to act? Or was he a man who recognised the darkness inside him and loathed it... until a chorus of voices emboldened him to unleash it?
It's a question that feels all too modern. Macbeth’s journey shows us how easy it is to be swept up by radicalisation – how validating it feels when others echo what we feel entitled to, how quickly accountability is stripped away, and how devastating the consequences can be. His downfall is a stark reminder of the need to interrogate our own beliefs and of our power to consciously choose the kind of person we want to be.
Macbeth will run from 11—14 and 18—21 March 2026 at UWA’s New Fortune Theatre, directed by Grace Edwards, a veteran performer of this stage. This semi-outdoor space, steeped in history and unmatchable atmosphere, is the only permanent replica of an Elizabethan theatre in the southern hemisphere. It offers audiences the unique chance to experience Shakespeare in a setting that evokes the atmosphere of its original performances while the actors inject the text with a fresh interpretation and contemporary energy. Whether you are a lifelong devotee of the Bard or a Shakespeare first-timer, Macbeth promises an unforgettable night of theatre – a visceral and haunting exploration of ambition, fate, and the fragile line between power and ruin.
