Kings Become Queens As The Barden Party Slays Macbeth Gender Roles At Chapel Off Chapel
26 May – 1 June 2025 – Chapel Off Chapel
🔥All Kings Are Queens🎻Live Americana Soundtrack❤️Real-Life Couple🎤Shakespeare Goes Country
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: After a highly successful international 90-show tour spanning New Zealand and Australia, The Barden Party is bringing two award-winning productions to Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne for a limited run. Known for their bold musical reimagining of Shakespeare they will present a double-bill of Macbeth – A Sassy, Sexy, Bluegrass Twist with Romeo & Juliet. Both tales are reimagined with live music and unforgettable performances, whilst Macbethpresents a fierce gender-swapped take on the Scottish play.
The Barden Party, known for their bold musical reimagining of Shakespeare will storm Chapel Off Chapel in the audacious double bill with the same cast playing all the characters in Romeo & Juliet. Following this, they will tour Macbeth to Scotland making it’s international debut at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In this striking retelling, all the “kings” are played by Queens – powerful women commanding the stage with grit, grace, and no apologies. At the heart of the production is real-life couple Laura Irish and Ollie Howlett as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, bringing electrifying chemistry and emotional nuance to this bold Southern Gothic adaptation. Backed by a live Americana/folk soundtrack, this Macbeth pulses with swagger, sorrow, and rebellion.
“We didn’t just swap genders – we flipped the power structure and watched it burn,” said Ollie Howlett, co-director. “This isn’t a retelling. It’s a reclaiming.”
The Queens at the helm include Laura Irish as Macbeth, Tara McEntee as Duncan and Julia Guthrey as Malcolm. The Queens will be supported by Criss Grueber as Banquo, Caleb James as Macduff and Hamish Boyle as Ross.
This production marks The Barden Party’s second Australian tour and sixth full-scale show in just three years. From private gardens to national festivals, they’ve carved a name for their intimate, irreverent, music-infused Shakespeare and bold immersive theatre. The Barden Party will present the Shakespeare Double Bill at Chapel off Chapel from May 26 to June 1 with tickets available for one or both shows on the bill.
The Barden Party will travel to Scotland for the debut of Macbeth, (boots, banjos, bloody ambition and all) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Tickets can be purchased for the shows individually or combined for the Macbeth/Romeo & Juliet double bill. More information visit thebardenparty.com.
BIOGRAPHIES
LAURA IRISH
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CO-DIRECTOR
PLAYING MACBETH and JULIET
Laura Irish is a Melbourne-based award-winning actor, director, producer, and immersive experience creator with over 20 years of experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the USA. Laura is a proud LGBTQ+ actor driving the Barden Party with ADHD. Her training includes the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC, Greenville University, AUT, and the Sidney Poitier Film School in LA.
Laura played a pivotal role in founding The Barden Party in 2021, bringing theatre, Shakespeare, comedy, and live music to private backyards during Covid-19. In three years, the company has created 5 groundbreaking works and toured three countries. Her deep love for Shakespeare is evident in her extensive performance history, including notable roles such as Lady Macbeth, Viola, Emilia and many more. Laura has performed as Mercutio and Puck over 100 times each—an impressive feat!
Laura is so excited and humbled to step into the challenging role of Macbeth, but feels confident doing so surrounded by the talent of this spectacular cast. She is excited to portray Macbeth as a powerful and conflicted Queen alongside the other female cast members who will also represent Queens instead of Kings (Duncan and Malcolm) in this unusual rendition. She’s bringing a unique perspective to the character of Macbeth informed by her previous portrayal of Lady Macbeth with Body in Space Theatre Co. in 2011 and their Adelaide Fringe run in 2012. Her experience in that iconic role and love for this play will undoubtedly enrich her performance as Macbeth, offering a fresh and insightful take on the classic character. Alongside co-directing the production, Laura is also the co-creator, co-writer, and co-director of the acclaimed immersive experience Butterfly Smokescreen, and recently served as Assistant Director and American Dialect Coach for Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s sold-out The Whale. We can’t wait to see the extraordinary energy she’ll bring to the stage!
OLLIE HOWLETT
MUSICAL DIRECTOR/CO-DIRECTOR
PLAYING LADY MACBETH and ROMEO
Melbourne-based Ollie Howlett’s passion for music and performance ignited early in his life growing up in Aotearoa’s Hawkes Bay. After completing his arts training at NASDA in Ōtautahi, he became a standout theatre maker and musician. He was also Musical Director and Co-Director of the Barden Party’s award-winning 2024 production of Romeo & Juliet, incorporating kiwi and Australian music, including Te Reo into our magical version of R&J.
Ollie is a proud LGBTQ+ actor and his recent theatrical credits highlight his range: he’s captivated audiences as Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Adelaide Fringe Winner 2024) and Charlie Chaplin in Butterfly Smokescreen which he also co-wrote (with The Barden Party and Sydney’s Jetpack Theatre Co.), and dazzled in his first show with the Barden Party as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (2022/23). He also starred as Andy in the NZ premiere of Glory Days (Semicolon Productions 2022). In 2018, Ollie was part of the New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company, performing and training at the Globe Theatre in London.
Ollie takes on a unique and thrilling role with The Barden Party. He’ll serve as Macbeth’s musical director and co-director, and step into the unconventional role of Lady Macbeth—Macbeth’s ambitious partner. Known for a musical talent and a singing voice described as “breathtaking,” Ollie brings a fresh and intriguing twist to this iconic character. Beyond the stage, he’s ventured full force into the indie-folk music scene with his debut single, “Flowers,” available on all streaming platforms. Prepare for a performance marked by extraordinary creativity and unforgettable talent!
THE BARDEN PARTY
Shakespeare Double Bill
MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
Double-Bill
Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet
Chapel Off Chapel
12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
26 May – 1 June
EDINBURGH SCOTLAND
Macbeth
ZOO Venues
1 – 22 August
ticketing announced soon
