Shakespeare's Macbeth is a fast-paced, dark plunge through the consequences of uninhibited ambition, where once committed to their path, its principle protagonists careen into desperate paranoia, insanity and death. This tale should be a sombre one, but instead it's roller coaster ride.For uninitiated audience members, this production of Macbeth with its raw emotions and passion, the clarity of its plot and clear link between actions and consequences is a terrific introduction to the works of the Bard, and for the initiated, it's a fascinating and fresh interpretation of this play.Here I must declare my interest — John Zuill, the director, who has countless Shakespeare productions under his belt — is my relative. The benefit of this is that I am well aware of the time and care he puts into the study of any play that he directs, and the deep thought he puts into its interpretation. I understand from him that some of this cast were new to Shakespeare, and others were new to the stage, but this production was pithy, deeply felt, and moved at a quick pace and with a smooth rhythm.The story, briefly, tells of the rise and fall of Macbeth, who at the opening of the play is a loyal subject of Scotland's King Duncan — Garrett Byrne provided this role with a noble monarch — and one who is happy to have been able to deliver a military victory for him. Danjou Anderson, who was cast in the role of Macbeth, is in his opening appearance a mild mannered military hero.He undergoes a transformation, however, when three witches throw temptation and ambition his way by painting a picture of his future, where they see him as the King. He is intrigued by the possibility, but his wife — the infamous Lady Macbeth — is unstoppable, determined to make the prediction a reality. Murder and mayhem follow as one killing leads to another in order to realise their ambition, and then to keep Macbeth on the throne.For Danjou Anderson and Tracey Lynne Harney who plays Lady Macbeth — and does it magnificently, the demands are tremendous as the two actors move along a continuum of unharnessed ambition towards unassuageable guilt and ultimately madness. Lady MacBeth's 'Out damn spot' soliloquy, where she endeavours to wash the blood of their many victims from her hands, was riveting and, oddly, her fervently passionate interpretation achieves some empathy.Costumed and also staged among the old grey walls and grassy lawns of Fort Hamilton in a minimalist but effective fashion, marking this production were many moments of gloriously untethered passions and emotions. Owain Johnston-Barnes as Macduff delivers a heartbreaking performance at learning of the murder of his family, and his simmering anger in avenging them is palpable.There are extremely well-executed sword fights as well as altercations of the more rough and tumble variety — credit must go to choreographers Rowan Vickers and Nick Waddell, as well as the actors, for these.This is a notable production for its creation of a world where right is right, and where the perpetrators cannot escape the fact that wrong is indisputably wrong.The three witches were certainly 'weird' as Macbeth describes them, and pitched the mood of this dramatic work perfectly. Wide-eyed, mono-toned and eerily invasive as they actually probed audience members — Laura Bardgett, Sheilagh Robertson and India Wilson all deserve praise for creating the pervasive spooky atmosphere behind a veil of dry ice that filled the ramparts of Fort Hamilton and accompanied their appearances on the stage.Cathy Aicardi performed in a switched gender role, as Malcolm, King Duncan's heir. Interpreting Malcolm as a girl, but quite definitely a tom boy, this worked extremely well. Much credit goes to this actress for executing a difficult characterisation as well as she did.Banquo (David SInclair Minors), a comrade in arms to Macbeth who is with him when they are visited by the witches, quickly falls victim to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's ambition. After he has been slaughtered, he visits Macbeth as a ghost in the middle of a party, and with tremendous effect. Macbeth's seemingly bizarre behaviour in front of his guests, is, to coin a phrase, the beginning of the end. It is undoubtedly a difficult scene to execute with the seemingly unrelated actions, and yet this was a highlight of the performance.Danjou Anderson was without question the star of this show. His performance of festering guilt, pushing him towards insanity was brilliant. It is a remarkable experience to watch the extraordinary change in personality that this actor portrays, and yet it is so subtly done.All the actors and those back stage deserve great credit for a strong production that carried the audience along with them and into a world where ambition clashes with conscience and passions run high. Compelling and with much food for thought, Macbeth still provides tremendous entertainment 400 years after it was written.