McAvoy sensational in gripping West End Macbeth

James McAvoy, of Atonement and X-Men fame here stakes his claim as one of the most versatile actors currently working. If anyone had questioned his ability to tackle heavyweight roles such as Macbeth, their doubts will have been dispelled by his performance at Trafalgar Studios: it is a career-defining tour-de-force.

This unique production features as part of Trafalgar Transformed, a season at Trafalgar Studios curated and directed by the peerless Jamie Lloyd. Lloyd's vision for this production has been realised with spectacular results: the action takes place in a futuristic, dystopian Scotland; a land ravaged by the effects of environmental disaster and tribal conflict. Soutra Gilmour's ingenious set design quite literally places much of the audience at the heart of this eerie, sinister landscape, and the combined results, are a visceral, truly powerful rendering of one of Shakespeare's greatest works.

What is Macbeth about?

Macbeth is famed for being one of Shakespeare's darkest, most potent plays. Scottish general Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches, predicting that he will one day become king of Scotland. He becomes obsessed the idea, and resolves to kill King Duncan and claim the throne for himself. Events spiral out of control as Macbeth feels he must commit more and more murders to clear his name and rid himself of enemies, and consumed by guilt and paranoia his mental state, and the state of his kingdom quickly deteriorates...