Macbeth: Without Words is a stylised performance of Shakespeare’s Scottish play, a play which needs no explanation. This adaptation was brought by Ludens Ensemble to the Manipulate Festival at the Traverse Theatre.
Experimental takes on Macbeth are not completely unfamiliar – the NTS did a one man version and various Polish companies have explored it from provocative perspectives. The Ludens ensemble use techniques reminiscent of the work of Anna Helena Mclean and abstract physical European theatre traditions, through incredible voice work and a loop pedal.
Something has to be said for the versatility of the three actors in this piece. All manage to play the comedic roles whilst also adopting the tragic roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth – to name but two – in quick, sometimes immediate, succession. The images created through their movement and their relatively sparse set are what keeps the attention drawn to the piece although occasionally the images seem too literal for such an abstract piece.
Sometimes, the themes of power and violence are lost in the dynamic collision of film, music and action. The use of slides with extracts of text sometimes detracts from the action taking place on stage and feels like a crutch to fall back on. Rather than letting the audience interpret the actions and movements of the actors, the viewers are given the scene to read and then watch. I feel Without Speech would be a more accurate title after watching this performance as words are offered in every key scene.
The piece and performers seem very aware of its own mockery of the Scottish tale and they do garner a handful of laughs, an impressive feat when it comes to Macbeth. (Is this a comedy I see before me?)
Animation is used in the key scenes such as the famous “Is this a dagger” scene which creates a fantastic image of Macbeth grasping for this dagger and highlights his descent into madness. However, sometimes the use of animation/videos fall short as it seems to be there just to add to the abstract nature of the piece.
The actors perform beautifully and the intention of the piece is clear. After leaving the theatre, there are some interesting images that were created that stay with you: Ludens Ensemble demonstrate the power of visual theatre even as they teeter on the brink of chaos.
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