Third World Bunfight: Macbeth after Verdi, The Barbican

Cross Shakespeare with Italian romantic opera and post-colonial African conflict and you might have something approaching Third World Bunfight’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth.

The show sees a group of Congolese refugees come across Verdi’s opera and adapt the music to tell their own tales of violence, corruption and escape. 

The production is the brainchild of South African artist, playwright and artistic director of Third World Bunfight Brett Bailey. Described by South Africa’s Sunday Independent newspaper as 'Undoubtedly the most exciting, provocative stage director in South Africa', Bailey and his company have a reputation for creating theatre from the stories of those whose voices are too often left unheard.

Those expecting a faithful performance of Verdi’s work should steer clear (the score has been adapted for the show’s South African ensemble), but what this Macbeth offers is a vibrant retelling of this most famous of tales, using influences from across both western and African cultures to explore the universality of the human condition.  

Note: the show is performed in Italian with English subtitles.