Macbeth as a Chinese opera? Oh the drama!

Lady Macbeth (Vivienne Oon) convincing her husband Macbeth (Cheong Chee Yoong) to man up and kill the king and claim the crown as his own. Photo: Ng See Bun

“Hail, King of Scotland!” William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth – reimagined through the eyes of veteran director Chin San Sooi – opens to a striking image: King Duncan in full Chinese opera regalia while his knights knelt before him, clan banners on their backs like peacock crests.

While last year’s staging did not use traditional facepaint, no expense was spared at this year’s production, now showing, at the Damasara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.