Please be advised that MACBETH is an uncompromising theatrical experience and contains scenes intended to shock.
Macbeth features graphic violence and mutilation, depictions of hard drug use, smoking imitations, explicit sexual activity, sexual assault, the murder of children, vomiting, strong language, loud noises, jump scares, strobe and flashing lights, theatrical smoke, and sustained moments of intense tension and shock.
This production is not suitable for those of a nervous disposition.
Macbeth features graphic violence and mutilation, depictions of hard drug use, smoking imitations, explicit sexual activity, sexual assault, the murder of children, vomiting, strong language, loud noises, jump scares, strobe and flashing lights, theatrical smoke, and sustained moments of intense tension and shock.
Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
This production is not suitable for those of a nervous disposition.
Are you brave enough?
Something stirs in the dark. Desire coils tight around a woman and a man who dare to aim for the ultimate prize. Ambition whispers, lines blur, morals rot and the air thickens with consequence. You are invited closer… to witness how far people will fall to grasp power.
Leon Witcomb - Director
Since founding Moonhawk Theatre in 2019, I’ve been driven to push each production further. We’ve taken two shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and received some amazing reviews. It confirmed what I had begun to suspect, that we are onto something. Something truly frightening.
It began in the dark, at eleven, at my Grandmother's house watching a DVD of The Fog, a quiet unease settling in that never truly left. Then, at thirteen, Ghost Stories by Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson at the Arts Theatre consumed me entirely. I have never found the words to capture what that experience meant.
Years later, after working as an actor, that same pull toward the unsettling refused to fade. What began as fascination became something essential. I turned to creating my own theatre, entering the world of Theatre Making with the drive to evoke that same sense of dread, wonder, and excitement that I felt at my Gran’s house aged 11.
Leon’s Treatment of the text and story.
What I love most about making a Shakespeare is the freedom. You’re given a beautifully written story, rich with twists and turns, and only the barest stage directions, entrances, exits and the occasional aside.
I strongly feel this tragedy mirrors the state of the world in 2026. What a time to be alive when that happens!? I set out to find parallels between the characters and real-world leaders, leading to this version created with my co-dramaturg Thea Marsh.
The true horror in The Tragedy of Macbeth lies in guilt. Macbeth commits atrocities and must live with the consequences. What we witness is the other side of the coin, a man unable to reconcile his actions, slowly unravelled, consumed from within. That corrosion breeds further violence and bloodshed. Oh, and all while the supernatural closes in around him.
As a play, it captures the human psyche and the moment an audience recognises themselves in something this dark and sinister, the horror truly begins.
This production is highly technical and experimental, as all Moonhawk Theatre shows are. It fuses uneasy claustrophobia, excruciating soundscapes, shocking violence, and daring feats that dismantle convention. As Director, I found myself questioning how it could move from a strange thought at the back of my mind into something fully realised. Thankfully, I am supported by an exceptional team: Mike Ward (Co-Technical Director and Technician), shaping the audio and visual landscape, and Ella Wernham-Clark (Assistant Director and Co-Scenographer). I am also absolutely thrilled to have Chris Bedford (appeared in Moonhawk’s POE- Abingdon, Oxford and Edinburgh) and Laura King (Richard III and Portia Coughlan) as Lady Macbeth.
I cannot wait for the premiere of Moonhawk’s Macbeth, and to see this jet-black, sinister, and jarring story come to life against a stark, nihilistic backdrop.
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Chris Bedford - Macbeth
Chris is an actor, voice artist and audio drama producer with experience across stage, screen and radio.
He recently appeared as Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and as Laurence Moss in Abigail’s Party. In 2025, he played Edgar Allan Poe in Moonhawk Theatre’s production of Poe, which received five-stars during its run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has also performed in and directed Woyzeck by Georg Büchner at the Fringe.
Alongside his acting work, Chris is a seasoned producer of audio drama, with productions regularly broadcast nationally. He has been involved in theatre and television from a young age, with screen credits including the TV adaptation of A Dance to the Music of Time, Holby City, and Smack the Pony.
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Laura King - Lady Macbeth
This is Laura's first production for Moonhawk and she is delighted to be appearing as Lady Macbeth - a role that has long been an ambition.
Laura has appeared for a number of local groups, most notably Abingdon Drama Club, where she has been a member for 20 years. Previous Shakespearean roles include Julius Ceasar, Richard III, Dauphin (Henry V) and Princess of France (Love's Labours Lost). Other recent roles include Kate (Dancing at Lughnasa), Beverly (Abigail's Party) and Isobel in the BBC Audio Drama Award shortlisted radio play, In a Manner of Speaking, for Springline Radio Players.
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Ambrose Hogan - Duncan
Ambrose Hogan studied English at Cambridge and holds the Diploma in Acting from the Central School of Speech and Drama. As an actor and theatre-maker, he has worked professionally on a wide range of fringe productions, and has extensive experience in drama education, which has included productions of Shakespeare, Timberlake Wertenbaker, musicals, and devised work.
He has written three plays, two performed in Westminster Abbey, and one (Flesh, 2007) at the Edinburgh Fringe. A new play, Falling Out, about cancellation and our struggles to communicate with each other, is currently in production.
He is an educationalist, having worked in a range of settings from universities to schools and with excluded children, has a PhD in psychosocial studies and education and a professional interest in analytical psychology and Jungian psychoanalysis.
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John Hawkins - Banquo
John has a wide range of amateur dramatic experience. Productions include (in rough date order):
The Tempest; Charlie’s Aunt (RGS, High Wycombe), The Diary of Anne Frank (Fourways Theatre Company, High Wycombe), An Inspector Calls (UEA, Norwich), Betrayal (Sinodun Players), Blood Wedding, The Taming of the Shrew, The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Improbable Fiction, Dr Faustus, The Turn of the Screw, Great Expectations, The Accrington Pals, Dangerous Corner, Henry V, A Man for All Seasons, ‘Allo ‘Allo (all Abingdon Drama Club) and A Chip in the Sugar (Appleton Players), along with several pantomimes and winter shows over the last 30 years. This is John's first Moonhawk Theatre production.
John would like to thank all those he has had the pleasure of performing alongside, as well as all the crew, front of house volunteers who make amateur shows possible, and you, the audience, for coming to support and hopefully enjoying the shows.
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Ella Wernham-Clark - Margaret and Assistant Director
Ella Wernham-Clark is a contemporary theatre creative and performer.
By studying at the University of Chichester and RCSSD, Ella has created a distinct and emotionally compelling performative and creative style.
MACBETH is Ella’s third show with MoonHawk Theatre, following her role as Ariel in the Pillowman performed at the Unicorn Theatre Abingdon, and her solo show Four Letter Word, that toured to London and Edinburgh Fringe.
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Alex Jenkins - Nicduff
Alex trained at the Oxford School of Drama and holds a degree in Choreography from Dartington College of Arts, alongside stage combat qualifications from BADC.
Over the years, Alex has taken on a wide variety of acting and dance roles, from performances at the National Theatre to immersive and site-specific productions. With a love for bold, quirky storytelling and inventive interpretations, Alex is happiest when creating work that surprises both audiences and performers alike.
An accomplished director as well as performer, Alex enjoys being behind the creative vision just as much as stepping into the spotlight. Whether on stage, in rehearsal, or choreographing a fight sequence, Alex brings energy, curiosity, and a real passion for collaboration to every project.
This is Alex’s first production with Moonhawk, and says ' I am so excited to be part of the cast, we have had so much fun bringing this show to life — hopefully the first of many adventures to come with the company'.
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Geraldine Hodson - Porter
Geraldine has performed in numerous productions over the last twenty years, usually at Unicorn Theatre Abingdon, varying from panto to high drama. Highlights: Lady Bracknell and Miss Havisham. She is delighted to be part of this very special production and sends huge thanks to the director for giving her the opportunity.
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Lara Landra Gunning - Fleance
Lara is an actor from and based in Oxford, England. She attended University in London, pursuing a degree in Anthropology and Linguistics, before moving onto Acting at Mountview Academy and is currently enrolled at The Actor’s Lounge in Oxford.
Lara has previously acted in short films, such as Meat Cute (2025), which garnered an Honourable Mention from Brighton Rocks International Film Festival. This will be her first role in a theatre production.
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Oscar Thomas - Seyton
Oscar studied Experimental Film Production at Staffordshire University and was involved in multiple film productions during and after his studies including Bwl Boy and New Beginnings by It's My Shout.
Before then, he has appeared in a number of theatre productions including The Odd Couple, A More Perfect World, A Servant of Two Masters, and William Tell. MACBETH is his first show with MoonHawk Theatre but he has worked closely with Leon Witcomb for many years including an acting showcase named Wit, Tom & Pals.
Oscar is looking forward to stepping back onto stage and is dedicating his performance to his late Grandfather, who was a Stage Actor and Drama Invigilator before he retired.
