Macbeth at Storyhouse, Chester Review

Written by Jasmine for Theatre and Tonic.

Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are my own

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Macbeth is a timeless, complex Shakespearean classic that the Chester Storyhouse breathes fresh life into. Providing a unique, bold, and daring interpretation of a classic tragedy, director Jamie Sophia Fletcher has taken a huge risk… and it has paid off.

The show begins with the colourfully dressed witches (oh, and a huge jump scare!). From the outset, it is clear that this production of Macbeth is not one that we have ever seen before, and this feeling continues throughout the show; Lady Macbeth has a neon green bathroom, Banquo is killed by a giant teddy bear henchman, and ‘Heads Will Roll’ is played after Macbeth’s death. For me, all of these choices were brilliant and really enhanced the story.

Sophia James Fletcher’s direction is a true standout of the production - it’s incredibly unique, and really leans into the dark side of the text. It’s a shame that Fletcher’s adaptational skills aren’t as strong as her directorial ones. Generally, the adaptation is fine, but some scenes are dragged out, and others are cut short. We also miss the “stars hide your fires” line, which, for me, is a huge part of Macbeth.

One thing I loved about Fletcher’s direction, though, was her interpretation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship. The pair have excellent chemistry, and we are reminded that they are not merely acquaintances, but lovers, which I find is often missed in other adaptations. This was a brilliant choice and superbly enhanced the sense of tragedy. Robin Morrissey leads the cast brilliantly as Macbeth, and Yolanda Ovide’s performance as Lady Macbeth is flawless - tackling the huge role with ease. She is a true scene-stealer, particularly during her death in Act 5 Scene 1.

A few other standout moments for me were Lady Macduff’s death scene (played excellently by Roly Botha) and the “party scene” before Duncan’s murder. Michela Meazza’s choreography for this is great, and the whole sequence is a completely unexpected highlight of the show. I found, however, that the fight direction (Kaitlin Howard) within the show could sometimes stand out for the wrong reasons, as it looked somewhat fake. This is hard to avoid due to the intimacy of the venue, and the fight scenes still looked great, but at times, we were taken out of the action.

The design elements throughout the show are superb and it has some impressive technical effects. April Dalton’s costume design - particularly for the witches - is brilliant. I also loved the choice to put Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in purple once they had been crowned King and Queen, only for this sense of regality to then be lost through their later costumes. Andrew Exeter’s set and lighting design, along with Daniel Denton’s projection design, is a visual feast for the eyes and impressively bold. However, I’m not quite sure why the word ‘Nacbeth’ was projected during the interval instead of ‘Macbeth’ - perhaps to show his deteriorating sense of self? I’m not quite sure, but just thought this was strange. The use of the Storyhouse’s thrust stage lends itself well to this production. But, as someone who sat in the gallery, we aren’t always given enough attention from the actors, who quite often just play to the stalls.

You won’t see another production of Macbeth like this; it’s bold, unique, chillingly dark, and superbly directed. What it lacks in pacing, it certainly makes up for in talent and technical elements. This production is not one to be missed.

At Storyhouse, Chester until 21 March 2026

★ ★ ★ ★