Macbeth, A Thespian Powerhouse and The Depot

Liverpool’s film studio is getting a theatrical make-over as it prepares to welcome one of the world’s biggest movie stars.

The Depot, located off Edge Lane, will be transformed into a custom-built theatre as it hosts the premiere of a brand new production of Macbeth, starring award-winning actor Ralph Fiennes who will play the ruthless lead.

Renowned for a whole host of iconic roles in films including Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and M in the James Bond series, the actor will be treading the boards from 18 November to 16 December, with The Depot providing an industrial backdrop for one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

Liverpool has been specially picked to showcase the work, and is just one of three UK cities to host the performance, which also stars Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma who will play Lady Macbeth. After the 20+ night run in Liverpool, the show will travel to Edinburgh and then London, ending in Washington D.C in April.

Directed by the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Simon Godwin, this latest adaptation will portray the couple corrupted by their relentless lust for power who have blood on their hands. Witness the gripping tale of greed, murder, deception and superstition.

It is being co-produced by Underbelly and Wessex Grove.

For tickets head to the official Macbeth the Show website.

The Depot was built by Liverpool City Council in recognition of the city’s growing popularity as a film location and is managed by Liverpool Film Office. Launched in 2021, it consists of two 20,000 square feet studios, including sound stages and a dedicated parking area and the site has already been used for a large number of productions. Macbeth will be the first production to use one of the sound stages as a theatre space.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “This is a huge coup for Liverpool – it’s a triple whammy of one of the most famous plays in the world, performing in our venue and starring two of the biggest names on the big and small screen.

“Huge kudos must be given to our Film Office and Culture Liverpool teams who have worked incredibly closely with the producers in recent weeks to find a city venue that would provide the perfect, atmospheric backdrop to this new play. We have always had huge ambitions around The Depot, with a focus on meeting the demand for studio space for the film and TV industry. Hosting a theatre production with a live audience is a totally new direction for us, but it just goes to show what can be achieved when you have the facilities to attract projects of this scale.

“It’s massively exciting and will hopefully open the doors to similar projects making the most of this diverse and adaptable location.”

Director of Culture Liverpool, Claire McColgan, said: “We always knew we’d have huge names in The Depot, but we had never initially envisioned it in a theatrical capacity. The location’s industrial characteristics, and the fact it’s a producer and director’s dream in that it’s a blank canvas, meant it was the perfect venue for a bespoke theatre set and will be an unforgettable experience for all involved.”