In Summer 2024 Splendid Productions followed up Midsummer Mechanicals with a new collaboration with Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Rough Magic, a play based on Shakespeare’s supernatural characters ran in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in July and August 2022.

It is the day of a great gathering of supernatural beings. Fairies, spirits, ghosts, monsters and witches have come to join a special alliance of magical ones: the Guardians of Destiny.

Long ago the Guardians combined their powers to contain the chaotic threat of human beings. Collecting all human stories into the magical Book of Destiny, the Guardians hope to restrict them to their own realm, and protect the natural balance of the universe.

For centuries, their mission has been successful… mostly.

It’s also an important day for the young witch Nona. On her first day as a Guardian, she broke the rules of witching, and instigated a terrible tragedy in the human world; the tragedy of Macbeth.

But Nona knows a secret about the Book of Destiny, a secret so big it is destined to change the fate of humanity forever.

We present a magical original comedy based in the world of Shakespeare’s supernatural characters, as the three witches from ‘Macbeth’ embark on an unexpected adventure all of their own.

Rough Magic was nominated for a 2024 Olivier Award for Best Family Show and was revived for performances at  Shakespeare’s Globe in summer 2025.

The Rough Magic script is available to buy from the Splendid Shop, and to license for performance.