What if Macbeth was once a 13-year-old kid big name? Shakespeare meets level mums and glints in riotous adaptation

When Bell Shakespeare’s Mackenzie starts, it’s with the clap of thunder and flash of lightning chances are you’ll be expecting from any adaptation of Macbeth. And but, what follows isn’t any bizarre manufacturing of the a lot liked Scottish play.

The 2026 premiere of Mackenzie, written via Yve Blake and directed via Virginia Homosexual, assists in keeping the outlines of Shakespeare’s play and transports it to a Y2K fever dream of kid stardom, crimson glints and level mums.

However make no mistake, divas: the glitter doth now not cover the darkish intentions and depraved behaviours of those characters.

The forged of Mackenzie, from left to proper (clockwise): Anusha Thomas, Ryan González, Nikki Britton (hidden), Jane Watt, Billie Palin and Kimberley Hodgson (centre).
Brett Boardman

The entire foulness and equity of the unique

Theatre corporate Bell Shakespeare isn’t identified for its variations. Normally operating most effective 3 primary performances in keeping with 12 months, it’s a large deal for a creator as opposed to Shakespeare himself to get a function.

The latest instance was once Laura Murphy’s The Fans in 2022: a campy adaptation of A Midsummer Evening’s Dream made for Gen Z. Mackenzie appears like a resurgence of this option to Shakespeare’s classics.

The unique plot of Shakespeare’s play follows the Scottish basic Macbeth, who’s instructed via 3 witches that he’s going to change into king of Scotland. Spoiler alert: the trail to kingship isn’t so simple as it sounds.

Fed on via ambition and prompt on via his unrelenting spouse, Macbeth murders King Duncan and seizes the throne, turning into a tyrannical ruler who kills to do away with his threats.

Blake interprets what’s most probably a recognisable plot for somebody who studied English in highschool onto the level of a kids’s TV display. Daggers change into acid-filled bottles of make-up remover, tunics flip to Juicy tracksuits — and the entire thing is subsidized via musical numbers.

Mackenzie brings the entire enduring subject matters of Macbeth into the Y2K generation of level mums and kid stars.
Brett Boardman

It would appear tough to consider the emotional scope of Macbeth transposed into this global of sparkly microphones and heart-shaped mirrors. Fortunately, the forged of the premiere produced such emotional intensity of their performances that the core of the tragedy held.

Macbeth turns into Mackenzie (Kimberley Hodgson), an up-and-coming kid big name. Her stardom is propelled aggressively ahead via her personal Woman Macbeth: her mom (Nikki Britton).

The place Macbeth is because of overcome villages and the rustic, Mackenzie’s objectives are arguably extra bold: to change into the arena’s primary pop big name (and in the end do away with her “fugly bowl cut”).

A stunning solid

Hodgson and Britton are the plain drivers of each the comedy and tragedy mixed into this adaptation.

Hodgson is masterful as Mackenzie, as she sings her method from a bowl-cut-laden preteen to a burgeoning young-adult pop big name. The paintings of dress designers Keerthi Subramanyam and Sara Kolijn play no small section in making this on-stage expansion imaginable, as her persona shifts from frumpy maxi skirts to leather-based frame fits.

And what’s Macbeth with out his Woman – or, on this case, her mom? Britton as Ruth is an absolute standout in her vary, reaching each the cruel ambition of a level mum and the tragic breakdown of a guilt-ridden murderess.

Whilst the script is devoid of Woman Macbeth’s iconic language from the unique play, Britton shines with the drama, aptitude and expression that you just’d be expecting from the position.

Nikki Britton shines with the drama and aptitude you’d be expecting from Woman Macbeth.
Brett Boardman

Ryan González as Beau (their tackle Macbeth’s BFF Banquo) offers us an earnest boy big name paying homage to Disney Channel’s Mitchel Musso circa-2006. Or, in his phrases, an “ethnic Zac Efron”.

Anusha Thomas is deeply endearing as each Dahlia (King Duncan) and Mackenzie’s non-public assistant, either one of whom deserve higher than Mackenzie’s ambition is prepared to have the funds for them.

Jane Watt carries the comedy of the backing solid easily, enjoying more than one roles. Her standout efficiency is as Pickles, the solo model of Macbeth’s 3 witches. She blends sinister prophesying with the camp, comedian horror rightfully caused from doing the hair of kid stars.

And rounding out the forged is Billie Palin as Gayle: Macduff reimagined as an overalls-wearing butch lesbian who runs a group of workers completely made from “lesbian, immigrant, single mothers”, with quippy one liners concerning the position of queer girls within the labour power. The one grievance one may just give Palin is that she isn’t on level sufficient.

Whether or not you’re coming in as a die-hard Shakespeare fan, or with a nostalgic eager for low-rise trackpants, Mackenzie has one thing to like.

It’s resounding evidence of each the staying power of Shakespeare’s paintings, and the endless skill inside of Australian theatre.

Bell Shakespeare’s Mackenzie is appearing at The Neilson Nutshell in Sydney till July 18, and at Arts Centre Melbourne from July 23 to August 9.