The Other Place — Attraction in Stratford-on-Avon

What’s done cannot be undone — and as witnesses, we carry Macbeth’s fate etched upon us.

I was traveling from America for work and decided to extend my trip for the weekend to visit a friend. When they suggested we go to Stratford, I was delighted — as someone with a degree in English, the chance to immerse myself in Shakespeare’s world was irresistible.

As if fate itself intervened, the three witches must have smiled down on us, because we managed to get tickets to Macbeth. What followed was unlike any theater experience I’ve had in America.

At The Other Place, we were seated in the front row, with the stage barely a foot in front of our knees and just an inch or so lower. With the performance unfolding across all four sides of a square stage, the audience ceased to be mere bystanders. Instead, we became unacknowledged witnesses to the tragedy, drawn into the world of Macbeth as if we were part of it ourselves.

The intensity was breathtaking. When Lady Macbeth and Macbeth met their end right in front of us, the proximity was so powerful that we had to fight the instinctive urge to tend to their wounds. It was raw, immediate, and unforgettable.

Beyond the performance, the staff were friendly and helpful, making the evening smooth and welcoming. While we didn’t eat at the venue, the food selection looked very tempting.

In short: The Other Place offers an extraordinary, immersive theater experience that makes Shakespeare feel alive in a way few venues can. Sitting in the front row made it even more...

Just down the road from RSC, a beautiful tree lined street runs alongside the river, directly to TOP. It's a smaller, intimate space, in the round, or rather cube, and has only two rows of seats per side upstairs, and not much more down. This made us feel like we were almost part of the play, so close were we to the action. The actors were convincing, every line was audible and the fights and murders gripping. It was accessible Shakespeare, all the meaning made clear by excellent technique. Shakespeare is like Marmite, you love it or hate it, but when it's this good, it's rivetting and stirring and current. The balcony seats, sadly, have no leg room, so it's very restricted and uncomfortable, especially if it's a long show. I asked to be moved, which they kindly did in the interval, but the new foot well was only a few inches deeper. Very uncomfortable, and painful if you have a disability. On the positive side, all access seats are only £16 each, and your carer pays the same. The show was a modern version of " That Scottish Play" and Sam Heughan was excellent in the title role. The supporting cast and special effects were very good too, the clever use of complete darkness and an eerie deep distant drum, gave a feeling of descending into evil deeds and madness. Well played!...

Well worth the experience - not perfect, but exuberant production. The set evocative, and the interactions with the audience - gentle banter - part of the atmosphere, as well as the chaotic indian-style foyer. Much to like - the transposition to Indian/Delhi worked and felt appropriate. Be braver! - there would have been no issue transferring names of character and place to India (Messina - Mumbai?) - nothing would have been lost from Shakespeare (he did it all the time!). The sweeping contrast between the joy in dance and music of the wedding of Claudio and Hero was offset successfully by the darker moments that follow (could have been more threatening and violent). Overall enjoyed production immensely, and could put up with the minor flaws for a delightful and entertaining evening. There are other plays in the Shakespeare canon that would be worth experimenting with an Indian transition - for example 'King Lear' would make an...