‘Something totally wicked this way comes’… The assumption that there’s nothing comparable between sports and Shakespeare has truly been debunked by ‘Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence’. Reimagining the cautionary tale of ambition from the desire of warrior Macbeth to be King of Scotland, to the desire of teen girl Mac to be netball captain of the Dunsinane Hell Hounds, this performance is a stroke of genius from the 100% female-led Crash Theatre Co.

Trading in murder for manipulation-à-la-Mean Girls, this Perth-originated musical draws upon similar parallels between the competitive, challenging and sometimes catty nature of both Shakespeare's world and the world of women's sport. The tenacity of protagonist Mac Beth and her fellow teammates captured audiences from the get-go.

The show was well served by a minimalist set, accompanied by a creative lighting design. While the audio levels sounded unbalanced and possibly too loud at times, the energy of the cast continued to deliver throughout the performance, especially with their impressive range of vocal belts and riffs. The powerful soundtracks composed by local legend PROJECT BEXX allowed the cast to really showcase the diva elements of the show and bring their characters to life.

Reactions from the audience included laughter in recognition of the passion of netball-enthused Coach Duncan, to gasping at the callous behaviour of the Dunsinane Hell Hounds, particularly from characters Mac Beth and Chloe Mcduff. The script comprised of language from the Macbeth text to flagpost the development of the original story, as well as modern-day jargon commonly heard on the netball court to ground the story in a world familiar to audiences.

Crash Theatre Co, as well as all cast and crew involved, should be very proud of what they’ve presented. If I could ‘look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not’, I’d assure enthusiasts of Shakespeare, netball, and all women in sports and arts, that this show totally deserves its almost sold-out run, and is too bloody maleficent to miss!