The Tank Theatre Company

19/12/2013

First Audience member review

Katie Alleyne

M.C beth was arrrrrddddddd, confusion u smashed it, gilly u smashed it. Them witches were ne###t. An that lil duo were overly joke. An Gbear I c u! Siiiick night, andddd touch had reaches all over the venue. Happydayz.

29/11/2013

These tickets are going faster than Hotcakes, there are only 200 so be quick

26/09/2013

Dan Danson review (Original Artistic Director of To***co Factory)

MC Beth was an edgy adaptation set in contemporary Bristol where MC Beth is a respected rapper and loyal member of a local gang. This original take on Shakespeare's Macbeth clearly helped the young cast of non-professional actors, to engage with the subject matter and make it their own. They performed with confidence and clear ownership of the material creating an exciting and engaging production.
A good mix of comedy, contemporary music and action engaged the diverse audience who on the whole appeared not to be a typical theatre or shakespeare audience. The text was cleverly adapted mixing modern dialogue and poetry with Shakespeare's original words.
The use of a number of performance spaces with the audience in and amongst the action helped break the barrier between spectator and performer, making the performance feel accessible and 'dangerous' at the same time.
Clearly the performers were restricted by their limited acting experience and training but their commitment and engagement with the work made it a very cohesive and inspiring event.
As with any project that brings together young people who may be participating in theatre for the first time, or who have had no connection to live performance before, we see a clear mixture of conventional performance style with a highly individual and unconventional interpretation and practice. It would be very exciting to see how this group could develop given more time to work together, especially if they were encouraged to explore their individuality and create a performance style of their own.

24/09/2013

M.C.Beth - one of those occasions where you wish that
everyone you knew was there too.....

I was struck and pulled towards an event that took place in August, M.C. BETH by the Tank Theatre Company.

I loved the play on words (heehee) and it was being done by young people...young people who had been enrolled in the idea and pulled together into a theatre group.... to learn and play Shakespeare...that had never acted before! Yes; I'm there ready to see and support this!

Well I wasn't disappointed. I was excited as soon as I entered the space. Not just one stage but several platforms and areas...what a gwan? The energy of the actors hit right from the start. I was taken from the streets, to the gang battle, to the 3 witches, to the Dons, to Lady M.C.Beth effortlessly following their journey as they used the spaces so well. The tale unfolds full of connectivity, emotion, energy and intonation. I was caught up immediately and was enthralled that they had turned the words to incorporate 'their now' and 'their neighbourhood' which in turn made me feel even more included and the words relevant and real.

Shakespeare made real. It was so good and and my experience so enjoyable I went twice. I just had to see the final nights performance. Could it have been better? YES it was. All the moves, glides, jokes were there, as impact-ful as before, but the actors had gained from their experience and had relaxed and grown into their roles. I fully heard every word and the emotions were exemplified.

There were so many, many magnificent moments... the battle at the start...the three witches.. power struggle of Lady M.C.Beth. Tears came to my eyes on the last night when she spoke of......
I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my ni**le from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done this.

I spent some time talking with the young actors afterwards... they were so happy. Being the first time that they had acted in front of an audience they were buzzing.

I was reminded that there are a majority of young people out there doing good each day. We just need to offer opportunities, encouragement and acknowledgement. Respect always for the inspiration behind the Tank Theatre Company.

Marcey Fisher
´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸>

10/09/2013

Dear Tank Theatre,

I wanted to write to share how impacted I was by M.C Beth. It was powerful, moving, humorous, provocative and thought provoking performance shedding light on the reality of Bristol's generational gang issues and the challenges that our young people are faced with in todays society.

I am a senior manager for an organisation that works with vulnerable and hard to reach young people, I have been delivering in the community for many years and have good relationship with many of the young people on the streets. I was very impressed and proud to see so many of the young people we have or are currently working with committed to such a project. It proves that Tank Theatre must be providing high quality, stimulating engagement that young people feel they can really relate too and truly feel empowered by.

Big Congratulations on such a successful production. You must take this further and create a legacy.

More power to you all,

Yours sincerely,

Nadine Bourne
Creative Project Manager

KIDSCOMPANY

06/09/2013

Hi guys, just had to say that I LOVED M.C.Beth. You are a seriously talented group of young actors and I couldn't believe it when I heard many of you have not acted before. The show was full of raw power and energy and I thought the idea to bring Macbeth to the streets of Bristol was inspired. There was some seriously slick MCing and beatboxing going on, and Lady B you just owned it. You guys brought an amazing tale bang into the present and it was so fresh and new and unexpected. I also thought it was very innovative to surround the audience with your stage layout and completely immerse them in the midst of all the action. I've been raving about it to all my friends and I look forward with bated breath to see what you bring to us next.....still. x
Foogle McDoogle

Congratulations on a job well done, you should ALL be unreservedly proud of what you've achieved!! Nuff respect to the young people involved, they saw an oppertunity and ran with it fully making it thier own!! Your passion, hard work, commitment and dedication reaped the rewards you all so obviously deserve.....standing ovation no less!! I hope this isn't the last we see of this production or these natural born thespians!!!. Hugeley entertaining and highly reccomended.............Big performance STILL!!!!!
Jeremy Atoo

09/08/2013

A Shakespearian Hip-Hop killer of Kings, battling the gangs of Bristol - Expect verse, rhymes, MC battles, sonnets & lots more 15th 16th and 18th of August 2013

31/07/2013

31/07/2013

A black comic drama take on the bloody classic!
Mixing Shakespeares Rhymes and murders with Hip Hop Rhyme and beatbox beats.
It makes the ancient text feel like Tarantino vs 8 Mile, Ttrue in your face, no holds barred, raw theatre that will leave you gasping for breath.
Don't mess with M.C.Beth, he f***in merk ya