By Brandon Wells

The Actors’ Repertoire Theatre Ensemble will be performing William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth” this summer in a fashion that audiences may have never imagined — post-apocalyptic.

Barta Heiner, associate professor of BYU's Theatre and Media Arts Department, is directing the play and said she feels that along with her visionary post-apocalyptic theme there is also an underlying gospel message in Shakespeare’s classic tale.

“To me deception is the theme,” Heiner said. “Satan will tempt you with wonderful things, but in the end he will deceive and betray you.”

Costumes will consist of simple jeans and T-shirts with a few other accessories so that the audience can focus more on the themes than the aesthetics of the production.

“I’m very surprised to how people adapt to the different ways that we present Shakespeare,” said Melanie Ahlborn, production manager. “We did this a few years ago and it actually went over really well.”

Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy, Macbeth tells the story of a brave Scottish general (Macbeth) who receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches that one day he will become king of Scotland. Consumed with ambitious thoughts and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and seizes the throne for himself.

“I think there is a Macbeth in all of us,“ Ahlborn said. “This play teaches us the effects of what happens if we let the ambitious, evil side of Macbeth control our lives.”

Macbeth begins his reign as king wracked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion. The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness and death.

The production will open Aug. 24 and will run every Wednesday through Saturday until Sept. 17 at the Castle Amphitheater on 1300 E. Center Street in Provo. Tickets are $9 for general admission, $7 for students.

The Actors’ Repertoire Theatre Ensemble is a private, non-profit theatre arts organization established in 1989. The ensemble is led by professional directors and actors who have taught or studied at the American Conservatory Theatre, Denver Center, National Theatre Conservatory, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Universities of Arizona, California-Santa Barbara, Texas-Austin, Utah, Washington and Brigham Young University.



Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Aug 2005