An Ellesmere Port based production company which promotes a strong sense of community, civic pride and social inclusion, has secured a prestigious season in Liverpool to mark Shakespeare’s 400th birthday.

Chalice Media, which set up near the Port’s historic high street, is set to take the city by storm with a season of classic Shakespeare comedies and tragedies in St George’s Hall.

Appropriately entitled Where There’s A Will, the programme features four of the bard’s most popular plays which will be staged in the stunning Concert Room at the iconic venue.

Starting with Macbeth from April 24 to 28, the season moves on to The Tempest on June 3 and 4 and Romeo and Juliet on July 2 and 3 before concluding with Much Ado About Nothing from August 3 to August 5.

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Following the success of their First World War commemorative outdoor adaptation of Peter Whelan’s The Accrington Pals last August, followed by a north west tour of Macbeth in September, the Chalice Media team will bring their inspired incarnation of the dark and tragic Scottish play to open the season at St George’s Hall.

Ten-year-old Corey Newton from Ellesmere Port. Pic supplied by Chalice Media.
Ten-year-old Corey Newton from Ellesmere Port. Pic supplied by Chalice Media.

Their ‘dark and disturbing, diesel-punk-inspired adaptation’ is described as a ‘frantic, fuelled and wholly engaging’ contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most explosive tragedies.

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Laura J Harris, director at Chalice Media, said: “We’re extremely excited to announce the season at St George’s Hall.

“It’s the perfect historic setting to celebrate the works of the Bard during this very special year. We’re having a lot of fun developing the season and we cannot wait to entertain audiences in the beautiful Concert Room. The plays will be far from traditional, stifled or stuffy!”

She continued: “Our Macbeth has a number of adaptations and twists throughout.

“We’ve really tried to approach the text from a new and different angle, adding to the psychological depth of the play and really placing the emphasis on the idea of choices and consequences relating to the individual characters rather than simply chalking it up to the traditional mystical elements of the play.”

Laura Harris
Laura Harris

Sean Goss plays Macbeth and Charlotte Graves plays Lady Macbeth heading up ‘a very talented cast’.

Laura added: “We have always been extremely privileged to strike gold in terms of the level of talent and dedication for our productions and Macbeth is no exception. We are extremely fortunate to have such a versatile group of actors joining us on this production run.

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“Sean Goss is a younger Macbeth than many will have seen before. This is a deliberate choice and one which gives his character a real sense of vulnerability. He’s still discovering his own strengths and flaws when he meets the witches in act one and is honourable and noble to a fault.

“The youngest of this talented group is 10 year old Corey Newton whose grasp and delivery of Shakespearean language is incredible. He is most definitely one to watch out for in the future.”

The Macbeth run will include 1.30pm matinees on Tuesday and Wednesday April 26 and 27. Evening performances are at 7.30pm, entrance via the North Hall, opposite the Walker Art Gallery, from 6.30pm.

Tickets are £14 adults, £12 season ticket price, £10 per person for school groups. General tickets can be purchased at www.ticketquarter.co.uk or telephone 0844 800 0410.