RSC Ventures into Gaming with Macbeth-Inspired LILI

It’s not every day you see one of the most prestigious theatre companies in the world make its debut in the realm of video games. Yet, that’s precisely what is happening as the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) teams up with iNK Stories, a forward-thinking New York-based game studio, to create LILI. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Iran, this ambitious project reimagines MACBETH for a new medium—one in which players directly shape the fate of Lady Macbeth via her personal devices. With Cannes Best Actress winner Zar Amir stepping into the iconic role, and the RSC’s stamp of quality behind the entire endeavour, it’s clear that LILI is set to shake up both the gaming and theatrical worlds when it launches in 2025.

A Groundbreaking Collaboration

At first glance, the partnership between a revered theatre company and a cutting-edge game studio may seem surprising. But dig a little deeper, and it all starts to make sense. The RSC has long embraced new technologies and unconventional approaches to storytelling, from live cinema broadcasts of its plays to immersive digital events. In a statement, RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey compared the gripping energy of MACBETH’s earliest stagings—thunder, lightning, and immediate audience engagement—to the adrenaline rush of modern gaming. This fresh approach, they argue, is a logical extension of what theatre has always been: a chance to explore new worlds in a communal, participatory way.

On the other side of the Atlantic, iNK Stories is no stranger to thoughtful, narrative-driven games. Their previous release, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, garnered industry accolades for blending interactive storytelling with culturally specific, historically grounded settings. By taking on a Shakespearean classic, iNK Stories is keen to push the boundaries of what games can be, weaving together complex themes of ambition, morality, and fate with the interactive possibilities of 21st-century technology.

A Modern Day Lady Macbeth

At the heart of LILI is a daring reimagining of MACBETH’s central couple, particularly Lady Macbeth. Taking on that pivotal role is Zar Amir, who brings her Cannes Best Actress-winning talent to an entirely new medium. But don’t expect Elizabethan ruffles and Scottish highlands. Instead, the story unfolds in a stylised, neo-noir Iran—where surveillance is a constant threat, and political tensions simmer beneath neon-lit cityscapes.

Players gain access to Lady Macbeth’s private devices, rummaging through text messages, emails, and social media feeds. These interactions aren’t just decorative or for show: the decisions you make within her digital world can alter the course of the story. Will you guide Lady Macbeth toward redemption, or push her deeper into moral compromise? That’s for each player to decide, highlighting the game’s deep investment in player agency.

High-Stakes Gameplay in a Neo-Noir Iran

The setting itself is a bold departure from traditional Shakespearean adaptations. Iran is presented here as a complex, multifaceted locale: a place of vibrant modernity, shadowy power struggles, and an ever-present state apparatus that monitors every digital footprint. Players must keep one eye on Lady Macbeth’s personal ambitions and another on the oppressive environment around her. The witches of Shakespeare’s text, once ominous forces of prophecy, have been replaced by hackers—lurking in the digital ether and manipulating events from behind the scenes.

By situating this storyline in an environment marked by authoritarian control, LILI raises timely questions about personal freedom, corruption, and the fragility of power. These themes are just as relevant to a 21st-century audience as they were when Shakespeare first set pen to paper, proving once again that MACBETH’s universal conflicts transcend geography and era.

Building on a History of Innovation

While this collaboration might be the RSC’s first step into gaming, it isn’t the company’s first foray into experimenting with new media. Over the past decade, the RSC has explored everything from online interactive projects to VR experiences that bring theatre closer to international audiences. This sense of innovation is mirrored by Vassiliki Khonsari, co-founder of iNK Stories, who calls LILI “a thrilling endeavour” that transforms “one of literature’s darkest and most compelling tales” into a medium that invites direct audience participation.

For iNK Stories, LILI follows in the footsteps of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, which expertly fused documentary elements and a gripping storyline, earning praise for its empathetic portrayal of a turbulent period in Iran’s history. With LILI, iNK Stories has an opportunity to revisit this cultural milieu but through a more fictional, Shakespearean lens, merging the universal drama of MACBETH with the specificity of modern Iranian society.

The Power of Choice and Immersive Storytelling

Gaming’s unique strength lies in its interactivity. Theatre, at its core, has always been about live, communal experiences. By blending the two, LILI stands at the crossroads of passive and active storytelling. The RSC emphasises that MACBETH’s original audiences were not mere spectators but participants, drawn in by the immediacy and rawness of the play’s opening scenes. Gaming, too, demands a participant’s mindset, where every button press can steer the narrative in a different direction.

In LILI, these choices won’t be purely moral or aesthetic—they may carry very real emotional consequences for players who form attachments to the characters. As Lady Macbeth’s confidant, observer, or manipulator, you become entwined in the drama, complicit in her rise or fall. It’s a far cry from sitting in the stalls, passively watching the tragedy unfold. Instead, you’re in the thick of it, bridging the gap between audience and protagonist.

A Unique Feature: Screen Life Thriller

One standout element of LILI is its classification as a “screen life thriller.” This relatively new genre of interactive media places the entire story within the interface of digital devices. Films like Searching and Unfriended have flirted with this style, but it remains an emerging format, especially in games. The approach amplifies the sense of claustrophobia and realism, as the player sees only what Lady Macbeth sees on her phone, laptop, or tablet.

This set-up gives new layers to Shakespeare’s text. Soliloquies, once performed onstage to the audience, could become typed-out notes or intimate video diaries. Inner turmoil might appear as unsent text messages or coded communications with the reimagined witches. By harnessing the potential of digital screens, LILI resonates with the modern experience of living part of our lives online—where illusions of privacy often collide with the stark realities of surveillance.

Anticipation and the Road Ahead

LILI is currently in development and is expected to launch in 2025 across major gaming platforms. Although details remain scarce, the combination of RSC pedigree, iNK Stories’ narrative chops, and Zar Amir’s star power has already generated anticipation in both theatre and gaming circles. Observers are keen to see how these creative forces mesh in a final product that aims to stand out from typical AAA releases and standard stage adaptations.

This could also open the door for future Shakespeare-inspired games. Imagine re-envisioning other plays—HAMLET, KING LEAR, or THE TEMPEST—in similarly unorthodox settings, crafted by skilled storytellers who understand the essence of the Bard’s work. LILI might be the spark that ignites a new wave of literary-based interactive media, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers. If the game performs well, it wouldn’t be surprising to see expansions, sequels, or even new collaborations that draw from the RSC’s extensive repertoire of Shakespearean classics.

At a time when theatre companies worldwide are striving to remain relevant to younger, tech-savvy audiences, LILI offers a glimpse into a future where stage and screen meet in unexpected ways. The RSC and iNK Stories aren’t merely adapting MACBETH for a joystick; they’re forging a path where Shakespeare’s themes of ambition, power, and fate come alive in an era dominated by social media and digital footprints. Whether you’re a die-hard gamer, a Shakespeare purist, or a casual observer of cultural trends, this fusion of mediums looks set to push the boundaries of what we call storytelling. Keep an eye on the horizon—2025 might just herald a brave new world for the Bard.