Potter puts his mark on the Scottish play

THE HARSH, austere light of Victorian Britain forms the focus of Andrew Potter's quite unique take on "Macbeth" at 21 South Street, Reading this week

Shunning the more conventional, as-shakespeare-would-have liked-it mould often adopted by the RSC, director Andrew's interpretation is as bare in production as it is in theme.

Dividing the play's extensive cast list between himself and just two others, Andrew'sstage set-up is refreshingly simplistic.

Playing the lead part himself, he has condensed the remaining character roster down to two familiar presences, Jekyll and Hyde, played with great colour by stage partners Neil Howman and Ivanhoe Norona.

A glance at the slim, three-man character line up may set alarm bells rining, but it is the core shades of the human nature they represent that effectively render Shakespeare's additional parts needless extras.

For Andrew himself a key appeal of the Bard is his innate understanding of human nature's potential evil and sin, and Robert Louis Stevenson's allegorical spirits fit the bill perfectly.

Stocky, dark-eyed Ivanhoe shuffles around admirably as Hyde, while a plaer more aloof Neil plays a perfectly restrained alter-ego.

It seems daring, if not a little fool-hardy, to preclude any female cast members from the play, but in this case it is forgivable.

Andrew labels the Scottish play as one "about testosterone poisoning", with female protagonists as "honorary men", and the inherent masculinity of Lady Macbeth and the three witches can easily vented through Ivanhoe and Neil.

It is a brave step, blending society, sexuality and politics of one century with those of another, but in this case Andrew Potter has just about pulled it off.

"Macbeth" can be seen at Norden Farm Centre for teh Arts, Maidenhead on Tuesday at 10am and 7.30pm. Booking and info: 01628 788997