"is this a dagger...."

"when shall we three meet again...."

The summer sunshine brings along an ummissable experience. Watching a performance of Shakespeare’s best known play, Macbeth, in the setting of some of the most attractive buildings around the North East. From the intimacy of the courtyard of Logie Steading to the grandeur of the grounds of Haddo House Illyria theatre company tours out-door performances all over the North East this July 2006. The audience can enjoy the production with their own picnic while soaking up the atmosphere of Shakespeare’s murderous tale unfolding on the stage before them.

Illyria are a regular visitor to the North East where their authentic, clear and pacy style is much appreciated. Last year audiences laughed at A Comedy of Errors but this year it is the turn of tragedy. Shakespeare’s play plots the rise and fall of Macbeth as the three witches foresee his rise to the throne of Scotland and subsequent downfall. Illyria perform on their own Jacobean style stage constructed in the grounds of a range of Aberdeenshire & Moray venues with some of the most spectacular backdrops in Scotland.

Illyria is the first and only open air touring theatre company to perform Shakespeare's plays on an Elizabethan-style stage. Illyria's Artistic Director Oliver Gray said:" Performing the plays on the same style of stage for which they were conceived helps us shed some light on what Shakespeare's own company's performances might have been like at the Globe Theatre. Without scenery getting in the way the audience actually finds it easier to tune into the language."

Gray maintains that performing in the open-air is totally different from performing inside. " The actors, the audience are all at the mercy of the weather and other uncertainties like planes, cats, cows even - the most dreaded of menace of all - seagulls! So actors bond more easily and directly with the audience than in indoor theatre. And on a lovely summer evening that bond is even stronger, because everyone enjoys the party atmosphere together, even for the tragedies!"

All performances take place in the open-air and audiences are advised to bring their own low-backed chair and/or rugs with their picnic, at some of the venues there will be other refreshments available, phone venue for details.


Macbeth is performed at 7.30pm in the following locations during July 2006:-

Haddo House Tuesday 4th 01651 851440

Archaeolink Wednesday 5th 01464 851500

Logie Steading Thursday 6th 01309 611378

Duff House Friday 7th 01261 818181

Drum Castle Saturday 8th 01330 811204

Cawdor Castle Sunday 23rd 01667 404401

Tickets are available from the venues

(or for first four venues online from www.neatshows.org.uk ) 


For further details about Illyria as a company & previous shows see  www.illyria.uk.com