Macbeth was our debut project in 2016. We wanted to prove that young people could tackle Shakespeare and make it exciting and relevant, without over-simplifying it. The project was a response to our area at the time - we felt young actors in Cumbria wanted a challenge: something gritty and mature.

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The project was led and directed by Hannah Roze-Lewis with a specifically designed soundtrack by Cumbrian composer John  Wiseman. It featured a cast of 22 amateur actors from the ages of 9 to 23. Since the project, many of these actors have pursued professional careers in the arts including acting, music, costume, make-up artistry, and fine art.

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Our version of Macbeth used the original Shakespearean text but included gender-blind casting, and re-contextualised the play in a post-apocalyptic junkyard setting, exploring status, power battles, and group dynamics with the backdrop of a dystopian, dog-eats-dog society influenced by poverty and climate change. 

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Macbeth was performed at the Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth for two nights.