The Okavango Macbeth

The Okavango Macbeth is a 2009 chamber opera written by Alexander McCall Smith (1948- ), with music by Scottish composer Tom Cunningham (1946- ), based on the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth.

First performed on 3rd October 2009 at the No.1 Ladies' Opera House in Gaborone, Botswana, directed by Nicholas Ellenbogen.

Subject
Set in the Botswana Okavango Delta, it tells a story of the struggle for power among competing baboons in their matriarchal society - thus drawing parallels with the Macbeth story. (Website )

The original text
McCall Smith's chamber opera is based on the stage play Macbeth (full title The Tragedy of Macbeth) by William Shakepeare.

Performance history in South Africa
2013: Staged by Theatre for Africa in the Artscape Theatre, directed by Nicholas Ellenbogen, with a cast including Sandile Kamle (Macbeth), Nobulumko Mngxekeza (Lady Macbeth), Akhona Dudumashe (Duncan) and Mlamli Lalaphantsi.

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