A humorous version of Macbeth? Who knew!
A wonderful article about the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy’s version of Macbeth using Mask work to teach a theatrical genre:
By Tankiso Komane of the New Age Newspaper, South Africa
IT IS a time of reckoning for a group of students from the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy as they get the opportunity to present their creative abilities for the first time since taking up acting classes at the beginning of the year. Sandra Philip, one of the talents featured in the comedy version of Shakespeare’s famous play Macbeth, (playing on November 29 and 30 at the Johannesburg’s Pro Musica Theatre in Roodepoort), is thrilled to finally get to showcase her acting abilities and, judging by her infectious energy, it’s only a matter of time before she carves out a successful career as an actress.
How did you get the be part of the play?
I joined the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy a few months ago with Victoria Colclough. We are adult students and we go to drama classes once a week at Olivedale Library. Our amazing teacher, Kerry Holbrook, is the principal of the Johannesburg branch of the Academy.
Any previous acting background?
I used to be in an amateur theatre group about 20 years ago in Scotland – I loved it. I did a few shows, pantomimes and the like. I was happy to find drama classes here in South Africa and start again.
What does your role entail?
At the end of every year Helen O’Grady puts on a production and students get to display their skills. This year the adults are doing MacBeth. It’s a masked production where some of the characters change throughout the play, but you will know who is who by their props. I am one of the three witches and I am also a guard who is accused of getting drunk and killing King Duncan.
As you know, Macbeth is the only Shakespeare play set in Scotland and being Scottish myself, I am looking toward to bringing originality and conviction to the drama.
