Macbeth as King Bruce would have us see him

Perth comedian Bruce Fummey reckons England should take responsibility for the anti-hero portrayed in Macbeth, arguing the Shakespeare drama should get renamed ‘The English Play.’

The award-winning funnyman plans to reveal the real story behind Macbeth, the legendary Scottish king and Shakespeare character, in his latest Edinburgh Fringe show.

The new, strongly-worded act, ‘Macbeth…without the Shakespeare B ****** s’ is the latest in Fummey’s series of hilarious Scottish historythemed shows for the Fringe.

Previously the Fair City-raised entertainer has enjoyed success in Edinburgh with ‘About Tam O’Shanter’, ‘About the Jacobites’, ‘About Robert the Bruce’, ‘About the Scots’, ‘A history of Scotland’, and ‘Alba: Scotland the Origins’.

Fummey will claim Shakespeare shamefully misrepresented Macbeth - a man who, in his time, was a popular Scottish king.

His death, at the hands of Malcolm, led to the Anglicisation of Scotland… and eventually “The English play”.

Fummey said: “I call it The English Play, as it’s effectively propaganda against Macbeth, who was the last true Celtic king of Scotland. Macbeth was killed and succeeded by Malcolm Canmore, who married a Saxon princess and started the Anglicisation of Scotland.”

The former teacher added: “Each year I look for a different aspect of Scottish history to explore.

“In last year’s show, Scotland the Origins, I looked at the medieval development of the nation. It struck me that the real Macbeth wasn’t anything like the one I’d heard about in Shakespeare at school, and I thought it was worth exploring.”

The show takes place at the Stand Comedy Club 5 and 6 (venue 319) from August 3-13 and 15-27 and is suitable for ages 16+.