This March, our Young Actors Company journeyed into the Palace’s basements for a promenade performances of the Shakespearean classic Macbeth.

The ensemble cast of 10 actors, aged 18 -24, took the public on an eerie performance tour of the basements lit by candles and torches, presenting an evocative, condensed and remastered reboot of ‘The Scottish Play’.

The Young Actors Company is part of the Alexandra Palace Creative Learning programme, which aims to engage, support and inspire people through culture and the arts.

Below we reflect on the performance and hear from the Director Jonny Siddall.

“Performing at Alexandra Palace was a fantastic opportunity for both me and the Young Actors Company. It was only the second time a performance had been held there, and we were all aware of its historical significance.”, says Jonny.

(Photo credit: Lloyd Winters)

“The basements were already atmospheric, and we added to this by simply lighting them with torches that aimed to reflect the same darkness that existed when the play was originally written. Back then, the only light was candlelight, so the space and lighting aimed to provide more understanding of why the witches were so feared.”

“The cast was fantastic as they adapted to edits and alterations throughout, and each member was so committed and creative that the play became truly a unique experience. The audience was taken on a journey through a part of Alexandra Palace that is never seen, and all the feedback we received praised the immersive promenade elements as well as the performances.”