A post-apocalyptic Macbeth

There’s a new theatre collective in town. They’re called the Electric City Players, and they’re dedicated to making experimental interpretations of classic plays accessible to Peterborough audiences.

Their first production: Macbeth.

Co-directors Andrew Loeb and Jacqueline Barrow have developed an interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy set in the aftermath of a climate apocalypse, and the production opens at the Market Hall on May 23, 2024.

Showtimes

May 23 at 7 p.m.

May 24 at 7 p.m.

May 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Macbeth in a climate apocalypse

Much of the stage setting and costuming is made up of found pieces, according to Barrow. “A lot of it is mix-and-match, tattered and torn, with elements of garbage and things which would be plentiful in a post-apocalypse,” she said.

Loeb, meanwhile, has developed audiovisual elements for the production. He wrote an original score for the play, drawing on his academic background researching music from the Elizabethan era. He’s also experimenting with video footage. “What does it mean to be a king when everything has fallen apart?” he asked. “The video captures fragments of the natural world in unnatural, unsettling ways.”

Loeb and Barrow have prided themselves on presenting a new perspective on Macbeth, and on giving actors space to collaborate and take ownership of their roles. “We wanted people to be able to read characters really thoroughly, and live with the language of the character in their bodies,” Loeb said. “What’s really exciting to me is how connected and relevant Macbeth is to the way human politics and corruption impact the world we live in today, and I can see our actors tapping into that.”

The cast has been rehearsing since January. Click here to read more about what the process has been like.