Macbeth By The Barden Party

Something wicked this way strums…the award-winning New Zealand theatre company of wildly talented actor-musicians, The Barden Party, are bringing their musical flair to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time with a thrilling, saucy rendition of the Scottish play. This reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Macbeth, is steeped in ambition, betrayal, and a sassy bluegrass twist. Against the backdrop of the country where the tragedy was born, this version honours the dark heart of Scotland’s most infamous power couple —breathing fresh life into the centuries-old tale.

Set in an intimate, immersive environment, this gender-flipped Macbeth unravels the timeless themes of power, guilt, and fate through live music, razor-sharp humour, and raw human connection. The Barden Party’s signature blend of humour and heart delivers a visceral and spirited experience, transforming one of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedies into something strikingly current, rebellious, and unforgettable.

Revered yet reinvented, audiences are invited to join in a twisted tale of power and consequence, . with interwoven Shakespearean verse filled with mischief, music, and magic. By reimagining the characters and injecting the story with fierce energy and heartfelt humanity, The Barden Party creates a production that feels urgently relevant.

Rather than placing Shakespeare on a pedestal, the troupe digs into the raw emotional core of the play — ambition, love, guilt, and downfall — pulling it out of the past and placing it firmly in the here and now. The result is a raucous, rebellious, and wildly engaging version of Macbeth that Shakespeare himself might just have raised a drink to.

Laura Irish, Director of Macbeth by The Barden Party, comments, The story of Macbeth was my first Shakespearean love— it’s fierce, fast, and full of fire. But performing it as a woman, and flipping the power dynamic between the Macbeths, cracked it open in a whole new way. Across more than 90 shows, audiences have told us they feel a surprising empathy for Macbeth — and that’s the power of intimacy, immediacy, and looking people in the eye as the tragedy unfolds. With bluegrass music pulsing through it and immersive, direct connection at its heart, this version makes Shakespeare feel raw, urgent, and more relevant than ever.

Having toured extensively internationally, The Barden Party was created in 2021 after COVID-19 led to a constant stream of cancellations in the performing arts industry. Within a month the company had created performances to travel safely to people’s own gardens, selling out on tours across the globe.

Macbeth is a show that will stay with you long after the last note fades, reminding us that “what’s done cannot be undone,” but sometimes, it can be reborn — in this fearless retelling which unfolds like a tragic folk ballad.

ZOO Southside (Studio), 117 Nicolson Street, EH8 9ER
Friday 1st – Friday 22nd August 2025 (not 4th, 11th, 18th), 10:40

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