Interview: Rona Morison on West End transfer of Donmar Warehouse’s MACBETH
Following a smash-hit sell-out run at the Donmar Warehouse earlier this year, Macbeth - starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo - transfers to the West End for a limited run next month. We spoke to actress Rona Morison who plays Lady Macduff in this innovative new production.
Macbeth has been performed many times over the decades. What makes this version of Macbeth unique?
We’re incredibly fortunate to have the amazing sound designer Gareth Fry on board, who’s crafted an immersive soundscape for the audience using binaural sound. This technique creates a 3D audio experience where voices and sounds seem to come from all around your head - sometimes even as close as a whisper in your ear. It really allows us to play with the intimacy of the scenes, sometimes speaking very quietly onstage, which almost mixes the world of stage and screen. Also, every actor plays their character differently to what I’ve seen before on stage with Macbeth. It’s a fast paced, raw world.
Tell us a bit about your character. Who is your version of Lady Macduff?
The scene with Lady Macduff is usually played with Ross but in our version, it’s played between Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth. I think this is really poignant. In our world, these two characters are friends, and it becomes as much about the relationship as two friends as it does two women. I try to make her not a victim but a strong woman who is just as strong as the men in our world of Macbeth. Lady Macduff could beat up people if she wanted to, I see her as a warrior too. But there is also a mother in there with a soft, calm wise head on her.
How have you approached bringing the Shakespearean language to life and making it feel relevant and understandable to a modern audience?
We did a lot of work on this in the initial rehearsals, but I’ve always found Shakespeare is sort of in all of us somewhere - the rhythm of the language certainly is. I always find if I am learning Shakespeare text, its far easier to learn than modern/new plays as you can feel if you drop a word as the rhythm is off.
How does it feel to be taking the show to the West End after a smash hit run at the Donmar Warehouse? How will being in a larger venue change the show and viewing experience?
Amazing - it’s always lovely to have another life with a play after it doing so well. Also, everyone in the cast has an absolute blast. I love the Donmar Warehouse, the Pinter will bring such a different feel to it and it will be strange to be in a big proscenium arch auditorium. I hope that with the headphones, it will still have a level of intimacy that is not usually explored in bigger theatres which is really exciting. It feels wrong not projecting and being filmic with acting sometimes but really fun to be given the opportunity to do that.
Besides Macbeth, what has been your favourite show to work on so far in your career?
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse because I loved playing the character of Sandy; it was such a gift. Or To Kill a Mockingbird at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre because I think the story of that is so incredibly moving, will always will be relevant and was also one of my first jobs out of drama school so that sticks with you.
Why should audiences pay a visit to see this production of Macbeth?
I hope that audiences will leave feeling something, and the amazing sound design by Gareth Fry really is something special. David Tennant as Macbeth, as well as every other actor, creative and stage management, is at the top of their game, and I think that comes across in the production. It’s also only an hour and a half so you can get to the bar by 9pm!
Macbeth plays at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre from 1 October - 14 December, with remaining tickets available here.
