Review: The Macbeth Project, The Tom Fleming Centre

Jessica (Ellen McBride) is preparing for her presentation on Macbeth and, along with her fellow pupils, she struggles to come to terms with the man himself. Trying to keep control of this increasingly chaotic situation is the thoroughly confused teacher, Miss Muir (Christina McNeill), whose wily use of witchcraft initially controls the situation until the lines between rehearsal and real life quickly blur. ***

Swapping the politics of Scotland for the schoolyard is a tricky transition which, for this production, walks too closely along the line of nonsensical. Musically, the cast is very strong. Zachary Stewart’s fresh-faced Macbeth in particular offers a new way in to this overly familiar play. His destiny is not the throne, but to be head boy, and there are no cracks in how Stewart deals with a potentially immature storyline. Unfortunately, the musical loses its thread at the point where a reincarnated Shakespeare appears. This metatheatre approach becomes overwhelmed by a plot which is hard to appreciate, and the production struggles slightly, but it also effectively captures the complicated balance between frustration and enthusiasm which epitomises our youth, and shows genuine glimpses of future talent.

Until 12 August. Today 6pm.