THE DIRECTOR
M E E T: P R O F E S S O R K I M S H I V L E Y
Why Macbeth?
It is free, public domain, and serves an appropriate amount to students and themes. I got the concept five years ago, before the 2016 elections. The witches are political operatives and Macbeth was never meant to be king. Shakespeare manipulated history and the narrative to fit his purposes. As a female identifying director, I can relate to that. Politically the world fell apart. I wanted blood and gore, so you can invest in the story. Preparing the right dish for the audience. The job of the director is to prepare the perfect play for the perfect audience. [Macbeth] is powerful. It engages you in ways nothing else can, and it comments on women. I was also thinking what can be an accessible lift during COVID. Listening to the designers and the team, the vision is majorly from Jack Smith [Costume Designer].
What elements of Shakespeare, do you feel, are vital in a student production?
Shakespeare is home-base as a performer. You can't fake it in Shakespeare and he provides forgiving plays you can cut. The heightened language is challenging. Physiologically, when an actor is being truthful it turns on everyone's humanity. Language evolved so we can blossom. Our DNA is hardwired to recognize that in someone else. Overall, it challenges us.