Theater

Distant, ritualized, and mysterious, Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood is the definitive film adaptation of Macbeth. Made in 1957 and set in feudal Japan, the film ingeniously compresses Shakespeare's tragedy into a cinematic masterwork that has inspired yet another transformation. In honor of Kurosawa's centenary, award-winning theater director Ping Chong calls on his avant-garde roots and interdisciplinary approach to adapt the film for the stage.

Merging iconic film imagery and modern scenic elements, Chong recalls, expands, and comments on Kurosawa's vision. A large company of classically trained actors from the prestigious Oregon Shakespeare Festival brings the characters to life-chief among them, the thunderous Washizu (Macbeth) and the conniving Asaji (Lady Macbeth). Powerful visuals and sound are key, and here they evoke stately Noh theater, the bewitching forest, and the undercurrent of crisis that drives this timeless story.