★★★★★
Anyone who’s ever played competitive netball will relate to this fierce new musical, filled with ambition, athleticism and unapologetic girl power. Lady MacBeth Played Wing Defence retells the bard’s infamous Scottish Play like it took place on the netball court of an Australian high school.
This production, fresh from decorated runs at Australia’s Fringe festivals, arrives with a bang in Edinburgh. It follows the ambitions of Mac Beth (Orla-Jean Poole) to be the captain of the Year 12 Netball Team, the Hellhounds. This has been her ambition since Year 7. But in a dramatic twist, netball coach Duncan (Courtney McManus) picks Chloe MacDuff (Shannon Rogers) as captain instead.
Breathing new life into the Shakespeare classic, the three witches become a girlband, dressed in bright pink sequins and dressing gowns, called “The Dagger Divas” providing a brilliant modern twist, far more relevant to the lives of our teenage protagonists. They tell Mac Beth she will be captain of the team one day and she comes to the conclusion that in order to do so, she will have to scheme her way to the top.
What follows is an hour of comedy and chaos as Mac Beth climbs her way to the top… but at what cost?
The characters all deliver soliloquys throughout the production in a nod Shakespeare’s iconic introspections within the high-stakes world of teenage netball, making Lady MacBeth a much more accessible alternative to the traditional play.
A definite highlight of Lady MacBeth Played Wing Defence is the pop-synth soundtrack, composed by Project BEXX and performed flawlessly by the multi-talented cast. From locker room ballads to full-court bangers, the audience were nodding along in appreciation. It’s Mean Girls meets the Spice Girls. The choreography by Shannon Rogers made me want to get up out of my seat and dance along.
Lady MacBeth Played Wing Defence is set to become a Fringe classic. It has the foundations to be something as successful as Six and has scored a goal so spectacular, even Lady Macbeth herself would be proud.
Lady MacBeth Played Wing Defence will be performed at Assembly George Square Cab Vol until 25 August as part of Edinburgh Fringe.
Words by Lauren Gilmour
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