A highlight in the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s calendar, this concept reimagines Macbeth through a contemporary lens, presenting Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as a modern “power couple” shaped by ambition, influence, and image. Set within a world of media spectacle and corporate power, the design draws on cinematic storytelling to explore the tension between public success and private unraveling, bringing a classic tragedy into a sharply current context.

The key challenge was to translate a complex, psychological narrative into a visual language that feels immediate and relevant to modern audiences. The work needed to balance sophistication with intensity, capturing both the glamour of power and the underlying descent into paranoia and guilt. It also required a cohesive system that could communicate narrative progression while maintaining strong visual impact across all touchpoints.

A film-inspired visual approach was used to craft striking, narrative-led imagery that evolves alongside the characters. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are initially depicted as polished and in control, styled through high-fashion-inspired compositions. This is gradually disrupted by visceral elements, blood, tension, and subtle cues of deception, revealing their psychological decline.

Media motifs, including sensational headlines and tabloid-style treatments, frame their story as a public spectacle, reinforcing the contrast between perception and reality. Typography draws from both high-fashion publishing and urgent news media, blending refinement with drama.

Close-up, almost slow-motion visual treatments heighten intensity and unease, while layered design elements build a sense of inevitability. The result is a bold, contemporary interpretation that captures both the allure of power and the consequences that follow.