For some fans of the theater, there is no play so exhilarating as William Shakespeare's Macbeth and for fans of David Tennant, the 2024 production of "The Scottish Play" as it's superstitiously called was the best possible rendition of the Bard's work. Now, this production starring two Doctor Who-related actors is available for streaming. Here are the details.
What do we know about the 2024 recording?
The main thing to know is that the murderous king of Scotland is played by native son David Tennant. He put his Scottish accent away as the 10th and 14th Doctor on Doctor Who, but has no such concealment in this play. His Lady Macbeth is Cush Jumbo, who played government informer Lois Habiba in the series spin-off Torchwood: Children of Earth. According to RadioTimes, "the acting powerhouses teamed up for a production of the famed 'Scottish play' at London's Harold Pinter Theatre from October to December 2024, with a professional recording later being made at the Donmar Warehouse.
For those unfamiliar with the play by William Shakespeare play, it tells the story of a Scottish thane named Macbeth. Meeting three witches during a war, he is hailed by his title, then a title he does not possess, and finally as the king. The prescience of this prophecy is first displayed when a fellow thane is killed and Macbeth becomes the thane named by one of the witches. His wife learns of his glorious future and persuades him to take destiny and a dagger in hand to kill the king in his own house. We see the way that the kingdom crumbles in the wake of the crimes that follow and the madness that takes Macbeth and his Lady as they are haunted by their atrocities.
If you're not like my friend who saw it twice in London or the UK cinema-goers who saw its filmed version in early 2025, you can see it on Marquee TV as of April 1, 2025. Says Susannah Simmons, the platform's director of performing arts, "The wonderful pairing of David Tennant and Cush Jumbo thrilled audiences and critics alike both on stage and in cinemas and we hope viewers at home enjoy it just as much." The Donmar Warehouse's artistic director Tim Sheader is quoted as being "delighted that our innovative production of Macbeth will continue to reach new audiences beyond the original run at the Donmar, the West End and cinemas...[and] pleased that Marquee TV subscribers will have the opportunity to experience this brilliant cast and the intimacy of the Donmar in their own homes."
Marquee TV subscriptions are 8,99 pounds per month or 89.99 annually and can be subscribed to via their website.