‘If Mancs did Shakespeare’: Rowetta and Haçienda DJ to take part in unique ‘Mancbeth’ party

A new album and show aims to capture what Macbeth would have been like if, 400 years later, was set in a club inspired by the Hacienda
-Credit: (Image: Avalon via Getty Images)


An upcoming party in Manchester will help reimagine what Lady Macbeth would be like if she swapped her fictional life as the Queen of Scotland for that of a rave DJ at the Haçienda.

Taking place at Band on the Wall on Saturday (September 14), the Mancbeth launch party will be held to tie into the release of a new concept album which sees William Shakespeare’s famous play given an updated and local twist by Mancunian electronic producer Octavia Freud.

The album also partners up with a successful Mancbeth show, which sold out its run at Modern Art Oxford earlier this year, and Manchester’s party will see the album and show performed in full - alongside a host of special guests joining in on the action of the reimagined play.

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The special show will see Happy Mondays star Rowetta join forces with Peter Hook-endorsed tribute band Shadowplay to perform a selection of Joy Division songs, as well as a number of House classics. Original FAC51 Haçienda DJ Jon Dasilva will also be on hand to add to the atmosphere.

Mancbeth sets the original Shakespeare play in a fictional early 90's rave club Glam-iz - which has a loose resemblance to The Haçienda. Featuring electronic songs from Octavia and a script from actor and producer David Lemberg, the show will recast Lady M as a resident rave DJ and Macbeth as club owner and drug dealer who spikes the security of his drug boss Duncan to murder him and become the new king of the city during the Madchester years.

Happy Mondays legend Rowetta will take part in a special MancBeth party this weekend
Happy Mondays legend Rowetta will take part in a special MancBeth party this weekend -Credit:Photo credit - Tigarstorm Photography

Scriptwriter David said of the show: “The text for Macbeth and the events surrounding The Haçienda night club back in the nineties gave me the perfect inspiration for Mancbeth.”

The MancBeth launch party will also see actor Brian Gorman reprise the role of Tony Wilson, having previously played the Factory Records founder in his New Dawn Fades production at The Royal Northern College of Music.

With spiking, or poisoning, making a prominent feature in the original play, the party will also form part of a special partnership with the national Stamp Out Spiking (SOS) campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of spiking to club-goers.

"Spiking is a real threat to safety,” SOS charity founder Dawn Dines said. “Horrible, cowardly people do it to gain control or power over the victim, often with the intention of sexual assault or robbery. These are heinous crimes which leave the victim with long lasting hideous partial memories and physical scars. They need to be taken seriously by the police and courts.”

Octavia Freud and the Weird Sisters will perform at the Mancbeth party
Octavia Freud and the Weird Sisters will perform at the Mancbeth party

Sacha Lord, the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, and Rowetta, have both publicly endorsed the show's partnership with SOS. Sacha said: "I encourage anyone on a night out to enjoy themselves, eat, drink and be merry, but look after your friends, be aware of your environments and stick together.

“Enough is enough when it comes to spiking and I'm proud to support any campaign which helps stamp out this horrific crime. I'd like to wish the MancBeth launch good luck for the evening.”

The launch party will also feature appearances from Weird Sisters members Emma Hunter, Mila Todd and Pet Twin, as well as guitarist Dan Clear, producer Tiger Mendoza and VJ artist Tom Martin. Musician Maria Uzor and electronic duo Means of Production will also perform during the night.

MancBeth will take place at Band on the Wall on Saturday (September 14) from 7.30pm until 12.30am. Tickets for the event are available to buy now from here - starting from £19 each.