If you prefer your Shakespeare light-hearted, this one’s not for you. The Scottish play is no comedy. There is no fool or subplot to provide light relief. It is intrigue, blood and murder all the way. But it certainly provides the talented team of Shakespeare Live something to get their teeth into. Magic, sex, violence – it has it all.

Young sprites provide a mischievous scene opener, with the mysterious figure of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, encouraging them from the graveyard. She and her “weird sisters” are seen to be the controlling influence of the whole drama.

The infamous witches are not played here as the traditional old hags but as alluring beauties, seducing Macbeth with their charms. Caroline Murray, Pat Cannings and Lucy Long ooze menacing sensuality as they provide Macbeth with the predictions that set him on his murderous path.

Jeremy Fowlds and Jude Bucklow are magnificent as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Fowlds portrays the inner conflict in Macbeth as he journeys through weakness, doubt, ambition, and fear; as he crumples and dissolves in grief, he is terrific.

Bucklow is superb as his power-hungry wife. The couples’ scene of lust as Lady Macbeth quashes her husband’s doubts and ditherings with passion could have been laughable, but instead is dramatic.

The main players are ably supported by a large cast; there is a wide range of talent in this amateur company.

Shakespeare Live are not limited by the physical restrictions of a traditional theatre and can pick their setting at Lackham House to suit the play. For Macbeth, the woodland backdrop is perfect.

The image of camouflaged soldiers slowly emerging from the woods, bathed in red light and wrapped in swirling mists, is striking. And a terrifying sight for Macbeth as another prophecy is fulfilled: Birnam Wood marches to Dunsinane.

My only niggle is the curious choice of music that is incongruous to the action, but this is a small matter in an otherwise solid production.

With its themes of passion, power and betrayal, Macbeth is timeless. Thankfully modern day questions on Scotland and England’s governance are to be resolved through the ballot box not by the sword.