Violet Shock: Beth

Evaen though Violet Shock are bringing a musical (a form about which I am ignorant, or at least badly informed) based on Shakespeare (of whom I have seen quite enough, unless it is in Polish) to Edinburgh Fringe, their email was charming and their website gothic and self-deprecating enough for me to chase them for an interview. Beth is a female-centric Macbeth that promises to have the dark physicality of their 2008 entry to the Fringe, Something Wicked This Way Comes and the show-stopping tunes of their 2011 Shop of Horrors.

The sex-reversed cast seems a step in the right direction away from the plethora of Scottish Plays that will haunt my in-box until the end of August. "Not very inspiring, or original really until you actually see it!" says Karl Boyd, artistic director. "The female cast have thrown themselves into the role of the warrior maiden and have drilled themselves in fitness and swordplay - the swords look perfectly natural in their hands." Meanwhile, their 'Lady Macbeth' is now a man. "A cunning, deceitful husband gives an interesting twist on the traditional Lady Macbeth role," Boyd continues. And the witches " are just wrong, there's no other way to describe them, creepy, sleazy and very, very visually arresting!"


The company have, however, kept faith with the Bard's language: "When Yvonne Rushmere (lyrics) and I (score) sat down to write this beast, we found that Yvonne  was able to include a lot of the original text," Boyd admits. "It soon became obvious that this Shakespeare classic in particular is the perfect inspiration for a musical. Yes, it's been done before in many forms but we like to think we're being as true to the original text as possible. Add all of this to an original blistering, epic rock score inspired by Sigur Ros and Muse and I think the show may just stand out."


Beth is a good choice for the Fringe: it's a mix of humour, violence, the familiar and the strange, loud music and aggression. Rather like a walk down the Royal Mile once the flyering starts... and unlike footsore critics and cynical editors, Boyd is excited about the festivities.  "We love the atmosphere, the experience and the sheer free for all melee that is the flyering on the mile." He even seems comfortable with the volume of competition. "We've made some great friends over the past few years and, of course, some "playful" enemies. Having a sing off with rival musical companies last year was a mutually beneficial marketing tool, but more importantly, bloody funny."




He even insists that Beth is the start of a new enthusiasm for the company. "We made their Fringe debut in 2008 with Something Wicked This Way Comes, a collection of ghost stories at the Greenside. We then focused on writing and performing a few of our own adaptations in and around Northumberland our home county ranging from Kind Hearts and Coronets - the musical to Wychwood House a collection of Edwardian Ghost stories told through physical theatre, stage illusion and Danny Elfmanesque songs. We returned to the Fringe last year with Little Shop of Horrors and knew straight away that we'd been away too long. This is now a regular venture for us without a doubt. We may only be a youngish, amateur company, but we have big, professional leanings. Fringe 2012 isn't even started and we're already working on adapting Wychwood House for a Fringe venue.  You can't keep us away."


The Space
6- 11 August 2012