David Tennant took to the Donmar Warehouse’s stage as Macbeth alongside Cush Jumbo on Friday.
The actor, 52, showcased his skills as he put on a moving performance for a revival of Shakespeare’s most extraordinary psychological drama.
The adaptation is directed by Donmar Associate director Max Webster, also known for Life Of Pi and Henry V.
The Doctor Who icon was joined on stage by Cush, 38, as Lady Macbeth.
According to the description the gory play portrays a ‘spellbinding story of love and murder, the renewing power of nature, and of the internal struggles of a damaged man as he tries to control his destiny’.
David Tennant took to the Donmar Warehouse’s stage as Macbeth alongside Cush Jumbo on Friday
The actor, 52, showcased his acting skills as he put on a moving performance for a revival of Shakespeare’s most extraordinary psychological drama
The Good Wife actress is a heavyweight theatre star as she previously played in Hamlet at the Young Vic a few years back – after what she was described by the former New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley as radiating ‘that unquantifiable force of hunger, drive, talent usually called star power’.
In a glooming and dramatic animation, David and Cush stunned the crowd with a sensational performance – as the show is set to continue for the whole winter season.
The production will use binaural technology to create ‘an intense and unnerving 3D sound world’, according to TimeOut.
Chatting to The Guardian, the David said of his latest work: ‘I thought I knew this play very well and that it was, unlike any other Shakespeare I can remember rehearsing, straightforward.
‘But each time I come to a scene, it goes in a direction I wasn’t expecting. It has such muscle to it, it powers along. Plot-wise, it’s more front-footed than any Shakespeare play I’ve done.’
Talking about her character Lady Macbeth, Cush said: ‘She is deeply ingrained in our culture. Everyone thinks they know who she is. Most people studied the play at school. I did – I hated it. It was so boring but that’s because Shakespeare’s plays aren’t meant to be read, they’re meant to be acted.
‘People think they know Lady Macbeth as a type – the strong, controlling woman who pushed him to do it. She does things women shouldn’t do. The greatest misconception is that we have stopped seeing Lady Macbeth as a human being.’
Earlier this week Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed that there are ‘no plans’ for David Tennant to return in the new series.
The actor reprised his role as the Time Lord for a trio of Specials to celebrate the show’s 60th Anniversary, with a twist in the third and final episode leaving The Fourteenth Doctor to embrace a new life on Earth.
While David’s return was praised by viewers, and the conclusion has left the door open for him to appear again in the future, Russell has confirmed that moving forward, new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa is the sole focus.
After his first appearance in the final special last week, Ncuti makes his full debut in a festive special on Christmas Day, alongside Millie Gibson, who will star as his companion Ruby Sunday.
Speaking at a Q&A following the premiere of the festive episode, Russell said: ‘Sorry, it’s the age of Ncuti now – it’s ‘David who?”
The Doctor Who icon was joined on stage by Cush, 38, as Lady Macbeth
According to the description the gory play portrays a ‘spellbinding story of love and murder, the renewing power of nature, and of the internal struggles of a damaged man as he tries to control his destiny’
‘No plans, genuinely, yet, because it’s a busy TARDIS – these two [Ncuti and Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday] are gonna just sail across the universe and capture your heart, so it’s time to look at these two.’
Elsewhere, Russell also revealed that when the new series hits screens in 2024, there will be an appearance from 60s music icons The Beatles.
He said: ‘[The Christmas special is] completely different to the next episode, isn’t it? And then the one after that, that’s the Beatles… that’s nuts!’
Viewers will get to see Ncuti make his full debut as The Doctor in the festive special which sees him cross paths with Ruby, before the pair encounter ‘mythical and mysterious goblins.’
Ncuti made his first appearance as The Doctor in the third and final 60th Anniversary Special, The Giggle.
His arrival came when ‘creepy’ returning villain The Toymaker, played by Neil Patrick Harris, shot David’s Doctor through the chest, forcing him to regenerate.
The Toymaker had turned human beings on Earth mad, before challenging the Doctor to a deadly game – which put the planet at stake – forcing the Time Lord to accept to try and save Earth.
Shooting the Doctor, The Toymaker said: ‘I played one game with the First Doctor, I played the second with this Doctor, so your rules declare that I must play the third game with the next Doctor!’
His companions Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and the returning Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford) ran over to support him as he regenerated, with fans expecting that to be the end for David’s character.
Melanie reassured him: ‘You’re going to be someone else, it doesn’t matter who, because every single one of you is fantastic!’
While David tearfully said: ‘It’s time, here we go again! Alonzee,’ as he expected to be replaced, but a huge twist saw his character remain alongside his new incarnation.
As he remained after the regeneration, he asked Donna and Melanie: ‘Could you, pull? It feels different this time,’ and as they yanked on his arms, Ncuti shot out of him and the two Time Lords stood alongside each other in a massive twist.
Making his hotly-anticipated debut, Ncuti’s Doctor shouted: ‘No way!’ as he laid eyes on David, moving away from tradition which normally sees one Doctor replace another upon regeneration.
David said: ‘You’re me,’ while Ncuti replied: ‘No, I’m me. I think I’m really, really me! Oh-ho-ho I am completely me!’
When asked what had happened, Ncuti’s Doctor said: ‘Bi-generation, I have bi-generated. There’s no such thing, bi-generation is supposed to be a myth, but-!’
The pair of Doctors then used their talents to face off with The Toymaker together and incredibly managed to beat him at his own game, sending the villain out of existence forever.
David’s Doctor said: ‘Best of three, and my prize, Toymaker, is to banish you from existence, for ever!’
‘No, you can’t. But I – not fair, please,’ the Toymaker said, before giving the ominous warning: ‘My legions are coming.’
After banishing The Toymaker from the world, both David and Ncuti’s versions of the character stayed on screen, and went back to the TARDIS with Donna.
David asked Ncuti: ‘How’s this going to work, you and me?’ as the huge twist saw two Doctors remain after a regeneration for the first time ever.
Ncuti told him: ‘You’re thin as a pin love, you’re running on fumes,’ before urging him to slow down and ‘stop’ rather than running and travelling in the TARDIS.
Ncuti then paid tribute to a whole host of former companions, including the late Elisabeth Sladen, who portrayed Sarah Jane Smith and sadly died in 2011.
‘Sarah Jane has gone, can you believe that for a second?’ Ncuti said as they sweetly paid tribute to the iconic actress.
Earlier this week Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed that there are ‘no plans’ for David to return in the new series
After briefly reprising his role for a trio of 60th Anniversary Specials, David has handed over the role to Ncuti Gatwa
Ncuti, 31, will make his full debut in a Christmas Day Special, alongside Millie Gibson, who will play his companion Ruby Sunday
Ncuti made his first appearance as The Doctor in the third and final Anniversary Special, when the Time Lord ‘bi-generated,’ leaving two incarnations living simultaneously
Ncuti then told David’s Doctor to try and lead a life of his own, to which David said: ‘I’ve never let the TARDIS go, never, that would hurt.’
In another huge twist, Ncuti managed to transform the one TARDIS into two separate time machines as a ‘reward’ for them winning the game against The Toymaker, under his rules where games override logic.
The episode ended with Ncuti heading off for more time-travelling adventures in the TARDIS, while David stayed on Earth with Donna and her family, sweetly noting he’d ‘never been happier in his life.’
Doctor Who returns with The Church On Ruby Road on Christmas Day at 5:55pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
