Shakespeare’s Macbeth comes to 11th Hour Theatre and Creative Studio this October in a new production that combines the darker elements of Scottish folklore with a gothic, vampiric setting.

Performances run Oct. 2 through Oct. 10, at 11th Hour Theatre and Creative Studio, 307 E. Morris St., Dalton. Tickets can be ordered online at:
https://www.11hrcreative.com/tickets

The production leans into the supernatural and unsettling elements already present in Shakespeare’s play, using vampirism as a way to explore Macbeth’s growing hunger for power and the corruption that follows.

“Macbeth is the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season,” said director Christopher Smith.

“We’re really leaning into the darker aspects of Scottish lore and giving it a gothic, vampiric twist. Vampirism and the pursuit of power really go hand in hand. There’s this constant hunger for more, and that fits Macbeth’s journey extremely well.”

Mr. Smith said the horror elements are meant to support the story rather than simply shock the audience.

“We’re definitely leaning into the scarier elements, but it isn’t gratuitous,” Mr. Smith said. “Everything is there for a reason. There’s so much spiritual corruption in this story and this feeling that these characters and this entire world are becoming sick and are in desperate need of healing. We’ve put a lot of thought into how the supernatural elements, the Scottish folklore and the vampire imagery all connect to that.”

For Mr. Smith, this production has been a long time coming.

“This is something I’ve tried to do for a number of years, which is funny considering the reputation Macbeth has as a cursed play,” he said. “I tried to do it in 2014, but I ended up moving away and couldn’t finish the project. I tried again in 2020, and that didn’t work out either. So hopefully the third time really is the charm.”

Many of the ideas behind this version of the play have stayed with Mr. Smith throughout those earlier attempts.

“It’s a vision I’ve had sitting in my head for a long time, and I’m excited to finally get it out into the world,” he said. “At the same time, this cast has made it their own. They’ve been incredibly collaborative and have brought so many unique ideas into the room.”

Mr. Smith said that collaboration has helped shape everything from character choices to the larger visual world of the production.

“There’s been so much passion put into this one,” he said. “Every detail has been thought about. The cast has really committed to the world we’re creating, and I’m very excited for people in Dalton and across North Georgia to see it.”

The production has also brought together performers from across the region.

“People have been coming from as far away as Blue Ridge and Chattanooga to help bring this to life,” Mr. Smith said. “That says a lot about how much people believe in the project and how much they’ve been willing to put into it.”

Macbeth tells the story of a celebrated Scottish warrior who encounters three witches and hears a prophecy that he will one day become king. Driven by ambition and encouraged by Lady Macbeth, he begins a violent climb toward the throne. What follows is a story of murder, guilt, paranoia, political collapse and the supernatural.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Location:
11th Hour Theatre and Creative Studio
307 E. Morris St.
Dalton, Ga. 30721

Tickets can be ordered online at:
https://www.11hrcreative.com/tickets