Macbeth on Inchcolm Island

Inchcolm Island is the star of the show. I'm sure this Macbeth, promoted by Richard Demarco, will become as iconic as his 1988 and 1989 productions. It was already darkening as we set foot on the island and the witches were silhouetted on a 'blasted heath'.

This was a promenade performance which made atmospheric use of the ruined abbey. One could almost imagine that the cries of seagulls were ravens, as Lady Macbeth summoned night. As the real shadows deepened, so did the play. The banqueting scene in the semi-darkened hall was an inspired nightmare scenario. Outside, the sky was reddening, a fitting backdrop to the massacre of MacDuff's family.

By the time of Macbeth's slaying, carried out in almost darkness, the grunts and clash of swords were far more terrifying than anything visible. The St Andrew's students acquitted themselves well – with an intelligent interpretation of the text that brought it to life. Both Alexander Forsyth's Macbeth and Caroline Ailsa Howitt's Lady Macbeth grew in stature as they became consumed by their deeds. Particularly fine performances were by Paul Edor Obi Jnr as Duncan, Nic Harvey as Banquo and Sunny Moodie as Malcolm.