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[title]If you’ve ever wondered what Shakespeare’s Macbeth would be like if the main character was a 13-year-old child star at the height of 2000s TV stardom and Lady Macbeth was her ruthless stage mother, then it’d go a little something like this.
Mackenzie, a new Australian production from Yve Blake (Fangirls) flips the script on one of the greatest tragedies ever told, remixing Shakespeare’s timeless tale into a pop-soaked, campy romp that keeps all the big moments of Macbeth – with five original songs thrown in.
Making its world premiere at Sydney's The Neilson Nutshell from June 6 to July 18, the Bell Shakespeare production will then head south for a season at Arts Centre Melbourne from July 23 to August 9.
Directed by Virginia Gay, the acclaimed actor and former Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the production stars Kimberley Hodgson (Miss Saigon, Fangirls) in the titular role of Mackenzie and celebrated comedian Nikki Britton (How to Stay Married) as her mother Ruth. Rounding out the cast is Ryan González (In the Heights), Billie Palin (Once), Anusha Thomas (Hamilton) and Jane Watt (War Crimes).
“The idea for ‘Mackenzie’ came to me like a fever dream – like Macbeth’s witches turning up. I'd always been gripped with fascination about the dark sides of child stardom, and it felt like the perfect lens through which to reimagine Macbeth. I wanted to maintain all the juiciest moments of the original because it’s such a timeless banger of a play, but I also wanted to make it fun and CAMP and super accessible, especially for young audiences,” says Yve Blake.
If Shakespeare, stage mums and the dark side of the Disney Channel sounds like your kind of combo, make your way to The Neilson Nutshell this winter. Tickets are on sale now from $45. Get yours here.
To mark the occasion, we’re giving away five double passes to see the poptastic production in Sydney in a performance of the winner's choice until July 18. To go in the running, just enter your deets below by midnight, June 9.