Something wicked

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this ways comes - yes, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is playing at the Swindon Arts Centre tonight.

Theatre company Out of Chaos actors Troels Hagen Findsen and Paul O’Mahony take on more than 20 characters to perform the tragic story of brave warrior Macbeth’s transition from hero to kingslayer, following the intervention of three bearded witches on a heath and some persuasion from his ambitious wife. Clearly things will not end well.

The play presents the multi-award winning creators of Unmythable and Norsesome with their greatest challenge yet, performing all the intrigue, murder and madness of Macbeth in 80 high-octane minutes.

Described as ‘a force of nature, pulling off one of the most virtuosic pieces of acting I’ve seen in a long time’ by the Oxford Culture Review, the play promises to be a treat for fans of The Scottish Play.

Out of Chaos, based in Birmingham, has been making theatre since 2008. The company has toured to more than 250 theatres around the world, and their first show, Out Of Chaos, toured Europe from 2008-10, winning awards in Bilbao and Berlin. In 2009 they collaborated with Timberlake Wertenbaker on a new version of Hippolytus, which toured the UK.

Macbeth is directed by Mike Tweddle, with music and sound design by Phill Ward. The play has no interval and tickets are £17.50, with concessions £3 off. To book, call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.

It's a kind of magic

Relive the glory days of operatic rock legends Queen at a concert by tribute act Flash tonight.

Flash have been paying homage to Queen, one of the world’s most theatrical and dramatic rock bands, since 2002. Now they are coming to Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre for a spectacular celebration of the performances of Freddie Mercury and his band.

Italian born front man Claudio Desideri is reckoned to play a uncannily realistic Freddie with just the right look and stage persona. He has developed the vocal range capable of performing the iconic songs, recreating the magic that made Queen live shows so special.

Claudio is joined on stage by a talented band, including Nathan Mathers who possesses all the electric guitar virtuosity required to play a very convincing Brian May.

Their attention to detail is impressive and extends to their use of the same equipment used by Queen on stage in their heyday.

Over four decades, Queen released 18 number one albums and 18 number one singles.

Tickets are £29. To book, call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.

Get real with the artists of Euston Road School

Explore the art of Radical Realism at an exhibition in Swindon Museum and Art Gallery this weekend.

Between 1937 and 1939, the artists of the Euston Road School, based in London, rejected abstraction in favour of realist art and everyday subjects. They embraced naturalism and realism rather than the avant-garde, and hoped to make modern art accessible to the general public. The school placed emphasis on acute representational painting based on close observation.

The artists were informed by their left-wing political views and dual roles as artists and art teachers. While the group was short lived, it was influential, continuing a trend of social mindedness that can still be found in art today.

This exhibition brings together a group of paintings by the artist Basil Rooke, on loan from his family. They are displayed alongside work by Lawrence Gowing and Duncan Grant, from Swindon’s own collection. The exhibition at the gallery in Bath Road, which is open Monday to Saturday, runs till April 14 and admission is free.