FAST paced and exciting, Macbeth is Shakespeare?s darkest and most dramatic tragedy, and is this year?s choice for the annual Northcott Theatre Company open air production in Exeter?s Rougemont Gardens. Flying in the face of theatrical superstition that bad luck attends performances of Macbeth ? which is why some refer to ?The Scottish Play? for fear of uttering its allegedly cursed title ? this is the 13th annual Shakespeare in the Gardens production, featuring 13 performers on stage and it opens in July on Friday 13! Macbeth (John Killoran) and Banquo (William Oxborrow), trusted generals of King Duncan (John O?Mahony who played Feste in last year?s Twelfth Night) return from the wars having vanquished a superior invading force. They encounter three witches whose prophecies for Macbeth seem to come instantly true when Macbeth hears the news that he is now Thane of Cawdor. A flame of ambition is ignited in Macbeth, fanned and made hotter by his wife Lady Macbeth (Jayne McKenna), Shakespeare?s most complete and complex female character, leading to bloody murder heaped on bloody murder and a descent into wretched villainy, isolation, madness and death. Completing the company are Faz Singhateh as Macduff, Dougal Lee as Ross, Dominic Gerrard as Donalbain, Simon Nock as Lennox, Steven Butler as Fleance and Macduff?s son, Kevin N Golding as Captain and musician Nick Baron. Many of the actors also play instruments, performing music written for the production by Musical Director Thomas Johnson. The production is directed by Northcott Artistic director Ben Crocker. A thrilling blend of the theatrical and supernatural, played out in the haunting beauty of Rougemont?s wooded Moat, the Northcott Theatre Company production of Macbeth will provide an evening you will never forget. Macbeth runs in Rougemont Gardens from July 13 to August 11. Details and tickets from 01392 493493 or at http://www.northcott-theatre.co.uk">www.northcott-theatre.co.uk