NINAGAWA Macbeth
The most beautiful Macbeth you will ever see.
NINAGAWA Macbeth
The most beautiful Macbeth you will ever see.
The Telegraph (UK)
NINAGAWA Macbeth
The most beautiful Macbeth you will ever see.
Why see NINAGAWA Macbeth?
A Stunning Staging
Yukio Ninagawa's adaptation of Macbeth is one of the great works of world theatre. First performed in 1980, it transports the Bard's tale of murderous revenge from medieval Scotland to 16th Century Japan, replacing bedraggled kings and warriors with sword-wielding samurais. Famously gorgeously realised, Ninagawa's Macbeth plays out among cherry tress, while a score that is equal parts Buddhist chanting and Samuel Barber lends the work a haunting, mystical air.
This revival, playing the Lincoln Center as part of a worldwide tour, features Japanese stars Masachika Ichimura as Macbeth and Yuko Tanaka as Lady Macbeth.
Key Information
Run Time
2 hours and 45 minutes, including 45 minutes
Dates
Finished Jul 25, 2018
Cast
Masachika Ichimura as Macbeth
Yuko Tanaka as Lady Macbeth
Creative
Written by William Shakespeare
Translated by Yushi Odashima
Directed by Yukio Ninagawa
Reviews
Customer reviews
3 reviews, average rating: (4.7 Stars)
SH
Ninagawa Macbeth is one of the best Macbeth's I've ever seen
I saw this production of Ninagawa Macbeth decades ago in London, & thought it was
the best Macbeth I'd ever seen. I've seen excellent productions by the Royal
Shakespeare Co, & other companies in the USA & UK. However, the NInagawa
production is visually & aurally stunning. I don't speak Japanese, but as in London,
there were supertitles; may of us know the basics of Macbeth. Listening to it in
Japanese, with its cadences, & the acting, & incredibly beautiful stage sets &
costumes, made for a very effective & poignant production. ... Read more
Stephanie
astonishing, beautiful classical Japanese production
I saw Macbeth today and from the cheapest seat in the house, I witnessed a moving,
visually unforgettable performance. Speaking later with Japanese attendees (I don't
speak Japanese), they told me that the language was mostly contemporary Japanese
with some "classical touches" thrown in. I'm a fan of Kurosawa's film, "Throne of
Blood" and it's in that samurai-era theater tradition that this play is set. The supertitles
have a few lines from Shakespeare, the most iconic lines, but most of it is a translation
from the Japanese, which makes for some weird and unintelligible language at times.
But mostly, who CARES? If you know anything about Macbeth, you'll get 99% of what's
happening, and you'll be so blown away by the visuals that it hardly matters. If you can
go, GO. The ushers were also very nice and let people move down at intermission! ... Read more
Jason M
Hauntingly beautiful
I had the pleasure of seeing Ninagawa's Macbeth at Lincoln Center on July 24, 2018.
The imagery, music, and characters still remain etched in my mind. It was one of the
few plays that reaches down into abyss of one's soul and compltely enraptures and
changes you. I am grateful that such a beautiful, talented and creative soul like
Ninagawa could have existed. I will forever be grateful for the vision that he shared
with me. Macbeth wil never be the same for me. Thank you. ... Read more
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