S4K's Macbeth at Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi

S4K's Macbeth is a family-friendly musical retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy, staged in Abu Dhabi as one stop on an international tour. It is performed by Shakespeare 4 Kidz, a company described as specialists in bringing Shakespeare to children, young people and families, in a new production where the cast act and play live music themselves.

The story follows a noble Scottish warrior who is told by three mysterious figures that he will one day be king. The trouble is that Scotland already has a king. From there the play moves through ambition, murder, betrayal, ghosts and revenge, as Macbeth kills his way to the crown and then fights to keep it. Just as he starts to feel invincible, a twist is waiting for him. The show is also the one with the famous dagger.

The production keeps parts of Shakespeare's original text but mixes them with plain modern dialogue, songs, music and humour, so the plot is easy to follow for younger viewers. The style is credited to Chenery and Gimblett, and a London Evening Standard quote on the show promises it will keep kids of all ages on the edge of their seats.

The performance takes place at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, a long-standing arts and cultural venue in the city centre that hosts exhibitions, performances and community events. It sits in a part of the capital close to the Corniche and the main downtown streets, and it is a drive from Dubai of roughly an hour and a half by car, so it works as a day or evening out for families based in Dubai.

The format is a seated theatre show, which suits families with school-age children, teenagers who are studying or curious about Shakespeare, and adults who like a lively take on a classic. It is a good first introduction to Macbeth without the difficulty of the full original language.