Macbeth set during the Second World War

DERBY-BASED 1623 theatre company perform Shakespeare's Macbeth amongst the Rolls-Royce aviation exhibits at Derby Silk Mill from tonight until Saturday.

The play is set in the 1940s, in the wake of a terrible war when an heroic fighter pilot takes the prophecies of three witches to heart and, with the help of his wife, kills the king and seizes the crown.

Councillor Joe Naitta, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said, "This is a real first – never before has a full Shakespeare play been performed in one of Derby's museums.

Co-ordinator of Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Adrian Farmer, says: "It's very exciting to have the work of one of the world's greatest playwright's performed in one of the world's first factories.

"This is a unique event and I hope people will be dying to attend, although hopefully not at the hands of Macbeth himself.

"Macbeth is one of the biggest attractions of the World Heritage Site Discovery Days Festival, which is also presently underway and continues until November 2."

All performances of Macbeth start at 7.30pm and run for approximately two hours.

Special family events at the Halloween performance, on Friday, include spooky storytelling (ages 10 upwards) before the show at 7pm and a Halloween costume competition, judged by the witches after the show.

Tickets are priced £5 (£3 concessions), including free non-alcoholic refreshments.

Call the Silk Mill on 01332 255308 to reserve show tickets and Halloween storytelling places. This is a promenade performance through the building, with limited seating. Macbeth at the Silk Mill is supported by Derby City Council, Derwent Valley Mills and Rolls Royce.