Macbeth. Macbeth. Macbeth.

Listen hard and you'll hear the sound of a dozen theatre traditionalists screaming bloody murder.

Macbeth (Pascal Tibbits) with the three witches, from left: Maggie Kelly, Lisa Thorne and Kim Williamson. Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre

I have committed blasphemy. I should be referring to Macbeth as ‘The Scottish Play', out of fear of 'the curse”.

'Nah,” Detour Theatre and Macbeth director Devon Williams says on the first day of rehearsals.

'It's Macbeth; the character's called Macbeth, everyone calls him Macbeth, it's Macbeth. Got it? Good.” He's a practical man.

That was more than two months ago. Aside from a case of the shingles, influenza, missed cues, unintentional bottom grabs and a wayward sword to the finger, it's been a rather curse-free zone.

We've been performing Macbeth at Detour Theatre in The Historical Village for a week and a half now and everything has gone very much according to script.

It's great seeing the fruits of your labour. Leading up to the show we spent many nights going over lines, blocking out scenes, finding characters and living life one scene at a time.

Audiences have been very good to us so far; they're more than happy to while away two hours in a Shakesperian world. No-one's thrown a cinder block at us either, so things are going rather well.

Every night above the audience, tucked away behind the lighting desk, Devon watches over everything, an omnipresent being with a tiny desk lamp.

He tells me a show always has a big lift as the actors step up to a live audience, ours being no exception.

'We were very well-prepared going into opening night and I wondered how much more energy and dynamism the cast could bring to the show.

'As it turned out our actors still had more to give; the performances have been brilliant.

'Pascal Tibbits (Macbeth) has brought so much to the play. The title role is always a crucial one and he's owned it right from the word go. Building the show around him has been great fun.”

The cast members of Macbeth. Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre

There are 24 actors in this production, aged 13 to 80-odd years. We're all from different backgrounds, different experiences; hold different points of view.

To scratch the surface there's a cafe owner, retired cleric, hairdresser, audiologist, landscape designer, ecologist, gymnast, professional gamer, lab manager, teachers and students – all brought together on stage by a play Shakespeare wrote 400 years ago.

Devon tells me working with this many actors can be like herding cats, especially getting everyone together at the same time to rehearse. Rest assured my fellow cast mates, we are better than cats.

'This cast have all been hard working and easy-going which has made for a very smooth process.”

I mentioned the word ‘whanau' in an email I sent to the cast and Sam Clark (Lady Macduff) replied that's how being in Macbeth made her feel.

Sam booked herself into a Detour Theatre class on a whim to improve her public speaking skills and 'banish the constant blushing each time I spoke to people”.

Three weeks later she was at a script reading with 23 others, many of who have also been through Detour classes. Sam describes feeling on that first day an 'instant sense of belonging”.

There were nerves, others like Brian Mackenzie (playing Duncan), took to their roles like it was second nature and Shakespeare can be a tricky beast at the best of times.

'We all put in our best individual efforts to the greater goal of providing an enjoyable experience to the audience, while at the same time show the same kind of support to each other, just as family would.

'I don't believe I've laughed as hard or as long with such a mix of people – a true testament to how an eclectic group can form connections.”

Ross (David Holt) speaking with Lady Macduff (Sam Clark) and her son (Daniel McKenna) Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre

Out back of stage the troupe hang out, whisper conversations, drink coffee and try not to be that one-decibel too loud.

Witty banter abounds when you get a group of thespians in one room. Chris Parnell (Banquo/Seyward), Dylan Frewin (Lennox) and David Holt (Ross) are pretty good for that.

The witches and murderers – Kim Williamson, Lisa Thorne, Maggie Kelly – will attempt to stifle raucous giggles before shushing each other and the room – a case of 'do as we say not as we do”.

Geoff Herd (The Porter) with a leg bone in hand will tap it away on his knee, give a wry smile, stand and proudly proclaim he's off to go wet his pants.

Reef Galloway (Malcolm) and Sam Verschaffelt (Donalbain/Young Seyward) draw and sheathe their swords to hear the sound of scrapping metal, cracking up Angus Stewart (Sergeant/Lord/ Caithness) and Daniel McKenna (Son of Macduff/Ghost).

Geoff Herd as The Porter. Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre

It's these moments that Jane McKenna appreciates – mixing with people, spending times with old friends and forging new ones. 'One of the reasons why Daniel (her son) and I enjoy Macbeth is the laughter and hilarious moments during rehearsals and even the show. Nothing like having a good laugh, let alone on yourself.”

Detour is a great place to learn, to make mistakes and most importantly, conquer them, says Jane.

'We work in an environment of directors that really want us to have a great experience, be challenged and bless the audiences, and they so appreciate us.

'To give pleasure to another, like the audience, is a treat and to have the opportunity is a privilege in many ways.”

It's not only the audiences that derive pleasure from this production of Macbeth, I guarantee you each cast member is getting their fill of dopamine every time they step on stage.

Everyone will have their favourite moments in the show, and with so many iconic scenes it is hard for Devon to pick just one, especially those featuring Pascal and Kate Akers (Lady Macbeth).

Kate Akers as Lady Macbeth. Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre

The Doctor (Tamanna Khurana) and Gentlewoman (Michelle Wyllie). Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre'

'The sleep walking scene with Lady Macbeth, the Doctor and the Gentlewoman is beautifully acted, costumed and lit. Everything works together so well in that scene.

'The power and emotion in Macbeth's confrontation with Macduff is stirring stuff. The sword fight and dialogue between those two characters is intense and compelling entertainment.”

For me (Macduff), there's a scene where Macbeth stares into the distance after learning his wife Lady Macbeth has taken her own life. He speaks to the audience and no-one at the same time.

'Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.”

When this is happening I'm standing behind a partition in the wings where I cannot see a thing, and yet I still close my eyes.

The audience is lulled into silence. You can almost hear their gazes fixated on Pascal and the sound of held breaths.

His voice is weighed down with heavy introspection, and yet it floats gently out, washing over the audience like an evening tide before it ebbs away into nothing.

Every night we perform Macbeth, it is one of my favourite moments.

Detour Theatre presents ‘Macbeth' at the Baptist Hall in The Historic Village to September 20

Book your tickets now by visiting www.detour.co.nz

ABOUT DETOUR THEATRE:

Detour Theatre is a registered charitable trust that is governed by a board of trustees established by Devon and Kim Williamson in 1996.

The trust was created to deliver the theatre's services to the community, Devon and Kim run weekly acting classes for children and teens and weekend workshops for adults. In addition, Kim also runs six classes a week for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Detour Theatre produces four shows a year including a Shakespeare and a new play written by Devon.

In November 2007 the Detour Theatre Trust began a long term lease of the 1911 Baptist Hall located at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue and immediately the Trust began planning for the renovation of the hall into an intimate 72 seat theatre.

A team of volunteer trades people have undertaken the work and the project was funded by donations from Charitable groups and individuals who are enthusiastic about the work of the Detour Theatre Trust in the community.

The ghost of Banquo (Chris Parnell) haunting Macbeth (Pascal Tibbits) as the court watches on. From left: Lennox (Dylan Frewin), Lady Macbeth (Kate Akers), Messenger (Jane McKenna), A Lord (Bob Hewart), Angus (Richard Burkett) and Menteith (Terry Ferguson). Photo: Photo: Ambient Photography/Detour Theatre