Macbeth

Macbeth comes to the New Theatre Royal on Wednesday 3 March, with the National Production Company bringing a full-scale production of Shakespeare's tragedy to Lincoln. It's a familiar story, but they've set it in the Dark Ages, which changes the whole feel of it. They describe it as a brutal, half-pagan twilight of warlords, cold gods and colder winters, where prophecy walks and ambition damns. A war-worn soldier meets three strangers who name him king, and from there it's the usual slide: the destruction of kings, friends and souls as he and his Lady try to cling to a tainted crown, with sorcery, ghostly apparitions and sword fights along the way.

One thing that sets this version apart is how they've cast it. The company strips the play back to the bone, with ten actors covering thirty roles, and several performers playing more than one part. It's a small cast for a play that usually fills a stage, so you'll see the same faces stepping into different characters as the story moves forward. It's a bit of a departure from the larger ensembles you might expect from a full-scale production, and it puts the focus on the actors rather than the set.

It's a long one, so keep that in mind if you're planning your evening. The show runs about 145 minutes, with a 20-minute interval halfway through, and it's recommended for ages 11 and over. It starts at 7:30pm at the New Theatre Royal on Clasketgate, LN2 1JJ, and tickets start from £21.