Taking the great Bard's work and fast-forwarding 400 years to set it in some postmodern, post-war, post-apocalyptic new world is always a bit of a gamble, but this production of Macbeth at the Riverside Studios has done away with pretentious arty-farty stuff and opted for an edgy setting. The Macbeths' evil scheming takes place at The Glamis Arms in the East End gangland of 1966 - cue television coverage of the World Cup - meaning that the murkiness of Shakespeare's dark world is fully brought to life. Add to this the fact that the script has not undergone a cockney rhyming slang updating - thankfully, Macbeth does not find himself in barney rubble (trouble) but rather, as Shakespeare intended, in "Double, double toil and trouble" - and here we have an evocative, bold and grimy thriller. The onstage seating envelops the audience in the midst of the action as they sit in the pub with the Weird Sisters, the Macbeths plotting behind the bar, and outside events are shown on the TV screen as Crimewatch footage.
The New Electric Ballroom
Riverside Studios Theatre, W6 9RL
3rd March - 30th March 2009
Dublin born Irish playwright Enda Walsh (Disco Pigs, Bedhound, The Walworth Farce), brings... More
Riverside Studios Café
Crisp Road, W6
Food, film and fringe arts combine at this contemporary café. Riverside Studios is one of the capital’s most innovative... More
Panto comes to the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas, after an absence of 30 years, as the classic fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk delivers an ...More
Rhod Gilbert, the self-styled Welsh Misery, brings his hilariously titled new show to the Hammersmith Apollo after sell-out success during the summer festival season. With ...More
Seasoned stand-up comedian Ed Byrne returns to the Hammersmith Apollo with his hilarious show Different Class this November. Best described as "pedantic and whimsical" (after ...More
The old Fuller's brewery forms the home of this stylish budget hotel, conveniently located halfway between Heathrow Airport and Central London. It's an easy stroll ... More
Though it is designed for visitors to the nearby Olympia Exhibition Centre, there are plenty of other reasons to stay at the Hilton Olympia, not ... More
Maggie's Centre next to Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith is the first cancer care hospice in England (there are several more in Scotland) for this ...More
West London-based charity Albert & Friends Instant Circus is on a mission to nurture the creative spark in young people, regardless of their ability and ...More
This small but delightful specialist food store in Hammersmith makes a welcome break from the chain shops on the main King Street nearby. It may ... More
This vegetarian and vegan restaurant is hidden behind a superbly romantic courtyard. The staff are friendly, the food sublime, and the wine list includes vegan ...More
On the first floor of the excellent Lyric theatre in Hammersmith is an elevated oasis overlooking the fountains in Lyric Square. Last time we were ...More
Furnival Gardens offers a welcome green space along the River Thames, a short walk away from Hammersmith's busy King Street. This grassy stretch, popular as ...More
Tucked away in the shadow of Hammersmith Bridge this small, but perfectly formed, traditional riverside pub offers a peaceful retreat from the chaos of Hammersmith’s ... More
The Dove is one of London’s best loved riverside taverns. This charming 17th century inn is tucked away down a tiny alley and features Britain's ... More