Pawâkan Macbeth will hit the Esplanade stage Friday evening

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on June 3, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

As inspired by the youth of Frog Lake First Nation, a Cree takeover of Macbeth comes to the Esplanade stage this Friday.

Pawâkan Macbeth is a Cree re-imagining of the original tale, says Barry Belinsky, director of the remount.

While the performance has familiar elements that those who are familiar with the Shakespearean story will recognize, much of it has been ironed out into a unique narrative that stands on its own, as lending man Macikosisân is possessed by a spirit that leads him to his actions of hunger and greed.

“It’s set during the Cree Blackfoot era wars in and around 1869-1870, so just before the great peace between the two nations,” said Belinsky. “And it is looking at what is happening from this period of starvation and scarcity as we look forward into what became the treaty era, and some of the challenges that we’re going to face moving forward.”

This version of Reneltta Arluk’s reimagining is the community telling, a lighter-weight, six-performer version that manages to keep all the punch of the story in a manner that can be taken all across the country.

Belinsky and the performing group have been in residence at the Esplanade for about two weeks now, and are looking forward to presenting the story to the people of Medicine Hat.

“Medicine Hat is so beautiful. We managed to get a little trip into the Cypress Hills, went up to the world’s biggest teepee a couple times. Got to see some northern lights, got to see some thunderstorms. It’s just really beautiful to be here,” said Belinsky.

Tickets and more information on the 7:30 p.m. show, which promises laughs, drama and Cree language, are available at esplanade.ca.

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