The play Macbeth will finally go ahead again on Tuesday after being cancelled for three nights running – but David Tennant and Cush Jumbo will not perform.
The Shakespearean play at Harold Pinter Theatre was cancelled for the past three nights due to company illness.
It was revealed on Tuesday that its next performance will go ahead – however stars David and Cush are still unwell and will be replaced by understudies for the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Taking to social media, a member of the public who had tickets to Tuesday’s show revealed they had been sent an email to say David and Cush would not be performing.
The message read: ‘Unfortunately, due to cast illness, David Tennant and Cush Jumbo will not be performing in Macbeth on Tue 5 Nov 2024.
The play Macbeth will finally go ahead again on Tuesday after being cancelled for three nights running – but David Tennant and Cush Jumbo will not perform
It was revealed on Tuesday that its next performance will go ahead – however stars David and Cush are still unwell and will be replaced by understudies for the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
‘We know that you will have been looking forward to the show and sincerely apologise for any disappointment caused.
‘The performance this evening will continue with understudy actors performing in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
‘As this season of Macbeth is strictly limited and sold out for the remainder of the run, we are unable to offer alternative dates for patrons who wish to exchange at this time.’
The theatre advised would-be audience members that they can request a refund if they no longer want to attend.
Macbeth is being shown at the Harold Pinter theatre in London’s West End, was forced to close its doors due to ‘company illness’ – with the latest being announced just two hours before the curtain call.
Fans have shared their fury over the last minute announcement about the cancellations, with many stating how far they had travelled to see the play.
Ticket holders said they wished the cast a speedy recovery but wanted the announcement earlier in the day before spending money on travel and food.
The Harold Pinter X account announced on November 1 that the show’s evening performance would not be going ahead.
The message read: ‘Unfortunately, due to cast illness, David Tennant and Cush Jumbo will not be performing in Macbeth on Tue 5 Nov 2024’
The Harold Pinter X account announced on November 1 that the shows’ evening performance would not be going ahead
Many said that they wished the cast a speedy recovery but wished they had made the announcement earlier in the day before spending money on travel and food
The next three days of shows were also cancelled, as the social media account apologised and thanked ticket holders for their understanding.
The post read: ‘Unfortunately due to company sickness the performance of Macbeth tonight has been cancelled.
‘Your ticket provider will be in contact with you in the next few days regarding your tickets. We’re very sorry and thank you for understanding.’
Reporting that fans were most recently alerted just two hours before, one person said: ‘Meanwhile, in London, UK, the entire company (including David Tennant of Macbeth is ill & forced cancellation of 4 consecutive performances just to hours prior to their curtain call.’
Others shared their fury underneath an Instagram announcement, writing: ‘I am all for the actors taking care of themselves but cancelling 1.5hours before hand is a bit rude’; ‘We came to the tonight performance from Lyon. Shame they didn’t announce the cancellation at least a bit earlier in the day…
‘Now we just wasted time and money for an empty evening in London… Maybe we could have got to see something else’; ‘Much sympathy to those who are ill but the lack of notice of cancellation is astoundingly poor. If, as we were told that the theatre knew there would not be a performance tonight by 4pm why did it take until nearly 6pm to us let us know?
‘We had been checking all day before paying for train tickets and supper that all was well. Who is going to refund us! The total lack of care shown to the audience is unbelievable. The fabuous staff sent to stand outside as ever have a grim time. Who on earth made the decision not to cancel first thing this morning?
‘The appalling PR you have generated by such a late cancellation is immense compared to a cancellation this morning’.
Fans have shared their fury over the last minute announcement about the cancellations, with many stating how far they had travelled to see the play
Another said: ‘I’m really disappointed by the way this has been handled. My friend and I had tickets for tonight. Because we knew previous shows had been cancelled we’d been checking all morning for notice of cancellation.
‘Because there was nothing we left to travel to London this afternoon. We’ve paid for train tickets and had taten in a meal near the theatre. The cancellation was announce at 5.45pm. That is so late. Very disrespectful and inconsiderate to ticket holders who have wasted time and money travelling to London.
‘A decision should have been made earlier in the day. I am not at all blaming the cast, illness cannot be helped and I hope everyone recovers quickly. I am however quite disgusted by the way the theatre dealt with this stuation. It is disrespecful and rude.’
Others shared their annoyance over the cancellation on X, writing: ‘Had non-refundable trains booked for weeks in prep for tomorrow’s performance – is there any way to rebate the cost of these?’; ‘Hi, I have had an SMS from AGT stating that the Saturday matinee has been cancelled. Please can you confirm? We are travelling from Somerset for the performance. Thanks’;
‘Why have your ticket agents used this as a excuse to incease ticket prices for the future remaining shows?’; ‘Hi guys I am sorry I’m in front of the theatre and it’s very much cancelled. I wish everyone speedy recovery and good health’.
Another fumed: ‘Maybe if you answered just one of the many people who asked about tonight’s performance on here and Instagram your phone lines wouldn’t be clogged up with callers trying to find out. Been on hold for 50 minutes now.’
‘Nanny booked. Hotel booked. Restaurant booked. Play cancelled with four hours to go’; ‘Assume text received from ATG that tomorrow’s performances are cancelled is genuine. Just so I don’t leave early tomorrow to get to London can you confirm’;
The next three days of shows were also cancelled, as the social media account apologised and thanked ticket holders for their understanding (pictured Cush Jumbo)
Others shared their fury underneath an Instagram announcement
‘Can you give more info please! Rescheduling? Refunds? When will it be back? You can’t get cancel via text message and then not follow up with more info!’; ‘@AGT really? how about you reply or update the info to all the people asking instead of sending this tripe?’
A spokesperson for the theatre said: All patrons who were booked into cancelled performances received correspondence that they will be contacted by their point of sale with regards to the options for their booking. This process is already underway.’
David and Cush staged the William Shakespeare play at the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden earlier this year before moving to Harold Pinter.
The adaptation is directed by Donmar Associate director Max Webster, also known for Life Of Pi and Henry V.
Cush previously appeared 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 gloomy and dramatic animation, David and Cush stunned the crowd with a sensational performance – as the show is set to continue for the winter season.
Speaking about their part in Macbeth last year, David told The Guardian: ‘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.’
Cush added: ‘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.’
