Puppets of Darkness Take Over
"By the pricking of our thumbs..."
This October sees a new adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy of over-weening ambition, Macbeth, brought to the stage by
Victoria University of Wellington performance club, Dionysiac. This production focuses strongly on the eponymous
character and his wife. Director, and script editor, Neal Barber anchors his production in the way the witches treat the
Macbeths are their puppets. "Instead of seeing the witches as bit players who stop by every now and then to make sure
the seeds of their prophecies are finding fertile ground, we have the witches constantly watering those seeds to ensure
proper flourishing" says Mr Barber of the concept.
Changing the focus allows the production to work with just seven actors. "The first things to go were all the minor
characters and sub-plots." Any characters lucky enough to survive Mr Barber's axe are all played by the witches who,
quite literally, construct the world in which the Macbeths are immersed. "The action is much more direct with a much
larger percentage devoted to watching the Macbeths' relationship unfold rather dallying on irritating sub-plots about
the equivocatory powers of wine or that the English are 'liberating' Scotland from a nasty, naughty man." Our actions
are not our own when the agents of malevolence control the way we see the world.
About Dionysiac
Dionysiac is an Incorporated Society formed in March 2013. It was started by a group of current students at Victoria
University of Wellington with a couple of the University's Alumni. Dionysiac aims to allow members to improve their
performance skills by participating in productions presented for the public's enjoyment. Macbeth is Dionysiac's first
production.
About the Creatives
Neal Barber - Director: Neal graduated with a BA (Hons) in English and a PGDipArts in Theatre Studies from the
University of Otago and is currently studying towards his PGDipIS at VUW. During his undergraduate, he directed
productions at the Globe and Fortune Theatres in Dunedin and for Spectrum Theatre at the University of Virginia. His
directing highlights include the New Zealand Premiere of Claire by C.E. Gatchalian, The Maids by Jean Genet, The Picture
of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Bacchae adapted from Euripides by Jonathan Wicken, and Shakespeare's Winter's Tale,
Midsummer Night's Dream, and Twelfth Night. Neal has also served on the Friends of the Globe Theatre Executive Committee
(not to mention being the current President of Dionysiac) and as Theatre/Performance Editor for Critic and Salient. This
production is not only Neal's debut directing for Dionysiac but also in Wellington...
Taryn Meltzer - Movement Director: Taryn has been dancing all her life in a variety of styles, but for the last eight
years she has focused on belly dance. While she has been involved in a variety of productions as a dancer, singer, and
actor Macbeth is her first opportunity to be part of the production team, focusing on mood, choreography, and general
witchy creepiness. She has very much enjoyed pushing actors around while muttering about animal spirits and leading from
the shoulder blades.
Jeremy "Jezza" Peters - Master of Swords, Producer: Jezza has been involved in many productions and short films over the
last 11 years, filling many roles including technical advisor, stage manager and producer. During these 11 years, Jezza
has been training in the art of fencing, and is currently training to be a full coach. This production is Jezza's debut
as a sword choreographer.
Cast: Katie Boyle (Third-Year Theatre student at VUW), Morgan Collins (First Year Biomedical Science student at VUW),
Kris Evans-Fee (First Year Film and Philosophy student at VUW), Laura Gardner (First Year English and Criminology
student at VUW), Georgia Latief (First Year Theatre and Media Studies student at VUW), and Isabelle Oskam (First Year
Psychology student at VUW).
Dionysiac Presents
Macbeth
Edited and Directed by Neal Barber
Memorial Theatre, Kelburn Campus, Victoria University of Wellington
October 2013
6th, 2pm, $5 unwaged, $10 waged
7th, 7pm, $12 unwaged, $17 waged
8th & 9th, 8pm, $12 unwaged, $17 waged
Tickets may be booked by emailing dionysiacnz@gmail.com
ends