A CAPTIVATING OPEN-AIR MACBETH IN KEW GARDENS’ ENCHANTED SETTING

By Emma Carney | Bunny Pudding · Digital Coven · @bunnyscopes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

The Australian Shakespeare Company’s production of Macbeth at Kew Gardens was a spellbinding blend of classic storytelling and atmospheric outdoor theatre. Performed against the lush backdrop of the Royal Botanic Gardens, this traditional yet imaginative take on Shakespeare’s tragedy made for a memorable summer evening—though a few logistical quirks.

THE KEW EXPERIENCE

Arriving by mid-afternoon (around 2-3pm) is ideal, allowing time to explore Kew’s breathtaking glasshouses and gardens before the show. Be warned: popular attractions like the Palm House close at 5pm, so early arrival ensures you don’t miss them. I unfortunately ended up arriving after another event in the afternoon so I missed out on the but still got to see the outside of the Victorian Glass house and eat my dinner under a tree by a Pagoda so no complaints! While the on-site dining options are convenient, they’re pricey if you’re on a budget (£7 330ml beers, £5.50 for packet sandwiches), so packing a picnic is a savvy alternative, but if you can’t treat yourself there are plenty of lovely little cafes dotted amongst the foliage.

The woodland stage, framed by towering trees, created a hauntingly fitting setting for Macbeth—though the frequent Heathrow-bound planes overhead occasionally disrupted the immersion (It’s *really* hard not to look up at a very low flying plane if you have ADHD omg.). Thankfully, the cast’s miked performances cut through the noise, and as dusk fell, the play’s eerie atmosphere took hold.

A TRADITIONAL APPROACH WITH STANDOUT FLAIR

Director Glenn Elston opted for a refreshingly classic interpretation—no gimmicks, just doublet-and-hose-clad intensity. Who doesn’t appreciate a bit of men in tights having sword fights? Bright it back, I say.  I was curious about what accent the actors would use in the performance being from ‘Stralia and to answer that question, they used an English RP accent (and well!). 

Hugh Sexton delivered a brooding Macbeth, his husky delivery lending gravitas to the role, though his performance truly ignited in Act II’s descent into paranoia. Opposite him, Nicole Nabout was magnetic as Lady Macbeth, her unraveling psyche portrayed with raw desperation. 

The trio of witches (Madeleine Somers, Grace Holroyd, Monica Nash) stole every scene they inhabited, their eerie physicality and sing-song prophecies amplified by Karla Erenbots’ fantastical costumes. Their cauldron scene—a spectacle of smoke, fire, and haunting incantations—was a delight for witchy types everywhere. 

The versatile set by Dave Angelico featured a rotating castle battlement, a clever device underused but striking when deployed. Scott Jackson’s fight choreography brought visceral energy to the climactic duel, and it was nice to hear some clanging mental on stage again. Peter Amesbury’s lighting bathed the stage in blood-red and ghostly blues, heightening the supernatural dread.

While Act I lulled a wee bit, Act II surged forward with gripping momentum. The production’s strengths—strong performances, stunning design, and the magic of open-air staging —far outweighed any of my nitpicks.

This Macbeth thrived in its natural setting, blending spectacle and tradition into a haunting night of theatre.

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Photo Credit: Johan Persson

FULL CAST AND CREATIVES

Creative Team:

• Director: Glenn Elston
• Musical Director: Paul Norton
• Lighting Designer: Peter Amesbury
• Choreographer: Sue-Ellen Shook
• Fight Choreographer: Scott Jackson
• Costume Designer: Karla Erenbots
• Set Designer: Dave Angelico

Cast:

• Macbeth: Hugh Sexton
• Lady Macbeth: Nicole Nabout
• Macduff: Jackson McGovern
• Malcolm: Anna Burgess
• Banquo: Johnny Light
• Duncan/Doctor: Jim Duah
• Porter: Oliver Byng
• Lennox: Scott Jackson
• Rosse: Jono Freeman
• Bloody Sergeant/Seyton/3rd Murderer: Akshay Sharan
• Donalbain/1st Murderer: Dan Nash
• 2nd Murderer: Cameron Essam
• 1st Witch/Gentlewoman: Madeleine Somers
• 2nd Witch: Grace Holroyd
• 3rd Witch/Lady Macduff: Monica Nash
• Macduff’s Daughter/Fleance: Eleanor Timms
• Young Siward: Abhisyaant Saravanan
• Apparition/Female Understudy: Sarah J Parker

A striking, atmospheric production that proves Shakespeare’s darkest tale loses none of its power under the stars.