EDFRINGE REVIEW: Smashing Shakespeare: Brave Macbeth (Captivate Theatre)

 Brave Macbeth - ★★★★★ - Smashin’

Assembly @ St Andrews Square (Venue 172): Fri 7 – Sun 30 Aug 2026
Review by Rebecca Mahar

Review commissioned by, and originally published on All Edinburgh Theatre, 7 Aug 2026. Edited by Thom Dibdin.

Captive Theatre romps into the Bijou tent at St. Andrew’s Square with Smashing Shakespeare: Brave Macbeth, a children’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy that’s heavy on charm and cheek and entirely without condescension.

Cutting Shakespeare for performance is always a tricky business, but trying to pack the entire story into one hour, make it intelligible and fun for little ones, and make it a musical? It’s a tall order, but Captivate comes through, stripping Shakespeare’s play back to the barest of bones, most essential characters, and highlights of plot points.

Jorgey Scott-Learmouth, Lucy Pedersen, and Ollie Heimann. Pic: Captivate.

Visit All Edinburgh Theatre to read the full review!


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