THE story of Macbeth is to be performed in Scots on stage for the first time next month.

Translated from Shakespeare by the late Robin Lorimer, Edinburgh Theatre Arts will perform the tragedy at the St Ninian's Hall in Edinburgh from May 1.

In 1995, Edinburgh Theatre Arts presented selected scenes from Macbeth in Scots at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a companion piece to their production of Shakespeare's original text.

Now the group is preparing to produce the full Scots version on stage. It will also be performed at this year's Fringe festival in August.

Liz Lochhead, the Scots Makar, or national poet, said of the production: "From a simple reading of Robin Lorimer's translation of Macbeth, I know it to be muscular, passionate, dark, and very, very rich – can't wait to hear it.

"This text performed in full by this fine company will be a real theatrical event. It will certainly add an extra frisson to Shakespeare's most headlong and thrilling psychological horror story to hear it in such Scots."

The company said in a statement: "It is time to bring the Scottish play home in Scots. The ongoing debate about Scottish independence and Scottish cultural identity makes it all the more relevant."