Source: Theatre Now
Hall/Bean Macbeth For Albery
18/06/2002
As reported by Theatrenow back in April, Sean Bean will be playing the title role in Edward Hall's latest Shakespearean venture - Macbeth.
Hall seems to have something a penchant for violent Shakespeare at the moment - so far this year he has followed Julius Caesar at the Barbican with a particularly gory (with animal guts being hacked about on stage) compilation of the HenryVI plays, Rose Rage at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket.
Macbeth also has its fair share of murder and Bean, whose brooding good looks usually go hand in hand with violent roles, is ideal casting as Macbeth.
Casting of the crucial role of Lady Macbeth has not been announced yet, though confirmation is expected in the next few weeks.
It is believed that the production will run at the Albery from early November (with a press night on Prince Charles' birthday, 14th November) through to early February 2003.
The West End's last major production of Macbeth - or The Scottish Play as the acting profession tends to refer to it, the play's title being held to bring bad luck - was at the Queen's Theatre a couple of years ago, when Rufus Sewell played the title role.
Given that he seems to be on something of a roll at the moment (and became the proud father of a baby girl earlier this year, with his wife, the actress and singer Issy van Randwyck) Edward Hall should be the man to buck the trend with Macbeth, and Sean Bean will certainly provide the requisite box office draw.