What is the play about? When was it first performed? Find a contemporary production of the play you can get an idea of and research it in terms of concept, style, design, casting. Give some attention to your own character and their role in the play.
'Macbeth' was first performed in 1603 and presented to James the I, who it has been claimed, the play was written for. The presence of the witches and witchcraft as an unnatural, evil form of being is laced into the plot throughout the play - which supported the beliefs of James I, who believed that women who carried out witchcraft were 'slaves of the devil' and the reason for suffering and disorder on earth. There was serious punishment for witchcraft and James I ordered constant witch-hunts and executions. Daemonologie, written in 1597 was James I's own account of witchcraft and it's 'evils'.
An extract from Daemonologie - a message to the reader:
"The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these detestable slaves of the Devill, the
Witches or enchanters, hath moved me (beloved reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise of
mine, not in any way (as I protest) to serve for a shew of my learning and ingine, but onely (mooved of
conscience) to preasse thereby, so farre as I can, to resolve the doubting harts of many; both that such
assaultes of Sathan are most certainly practized, and that the instrumentes thereof, merits most severely
to be punished:"In 'Macbeth', it is the witches who reveal the prophecy and therefore cause the undoing of Scottish society.
The presentation of witches has developed massively over time, in Greek mythology they were often described as 'The Fates' - this evolving into the 'Moirai sisters' and then the 'Witches'. As the ensemble will be playing the 'Witches' throughout our production of Macbeth, there is an importance to understanding the origin of their representation and purpose in the plot. In every case they are powerful, strong beings, able to control the weather, and ultimately, the fate of mere mortals. Although as an ensemble of the witches we aren't presented as having explicit control of the weather, it is the sense of power that comes from this which is important to convey and emphasise in our embodiment.
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| Holinshed Chronicles |
Shakespeare took most of his inspiration for Macbeth from The Holinshed Chronicles which were a compilation of volumes on British history. With vast record of Scotland's history and it's conflicts. One tale in the Holinshed Chronicles helped to shape Act 1, Scene 2 of Macbeth where Banquo and Macbeth reach the three weird sisters and approach them where they are told of the fatal prophecy which sets up the play's plot and tragedy. The Chronicles had vast records of Scottish history so this would have been a massive source for Shakespeare in writing the politics in regard to power in Scotland.
Macbeth explores control, ambition and fate in many ways, it is a comment on humanity and human tendencies and temptations. There is constant conflict throughout the play, firstly, with the introductory battle which sets the tone of the play, then Macbeth's own inner conflict - which is challenged throughout the play when he commits various violent and murderous acts against what represents peace and order in Scottish society. In a sense, Macbeth appears a paradox in himself, this noble character considered 'brave' and 'valiant' - 'For brace Macbeth - well he deserves that name' (Act 1 Scene 1) - only to be disturbed and obsessed with the prophecy which is revealed in the scene immediately afterwards in Scene 2. It is the tragedy of a man who succumbs to his fatal flaw and has a great downfall, even tragically, this only realised moments before death.
The Globe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bUv4X9ErWo - 2013 Dir. Eve Best
This production focuses heavily on celtic style, and historical Scottish culture. The opening, which is shown in the clip uses a traditional Scottish sound, bagpipes, drums, to set the scene for the battle, where the music abandons its order and descends into a chaos. As the actors leave the stage, except for the three witches, who begin the play. The stage itself is designed as the forest with a wood quality which washes the stage in the setting and really supports the traditional styling of the play overall. The costume is also traditional, with a scheme of leather and red which reflects Scotland, but also drawing on Elizabethan costume.
The use of live music throughout, especially with the foreboding sound of the drums emphasises the presence of war and conflict in Macbeth and is effective in creating suspense and tension in the play and conveying this to the audience.
Macbeth, played by Joseph Millson, appears expressive and quite emotive in his performance. There is a sense of anger that comes across in many of the soliloquies and a violence which he adopts to speak his mind, as though he is attacking the words, attacking his thoughts so that both his actions and words are aggressive, a retaliation against what isn't in his control.
The RSC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04nFFObLoPk - 1979 Dir. Trevor Nunn
This RSC production of Macbeth has a powerful opening with the characters walking onto a circular, heavily darkened stage and sitting on chairs which line the edges. The action of the play happens in the middle and it is as though the characters are constantly shrouded in darkness, or a foreboding of the darkness 'out to get them'. All of the characters, apart from King Duncan, are dressed in black. Our first glimpse of King Duncan in this production is him on his knees, praying, shrouded in a bright light and set apart from the darkness of the surroundings and the people around him, by his white robes and golden cross chain. This style choice is strongly reflective of the play and it's contextual references to the Elizabethan belief that the monarchy and that 'royal blood' is divine and sacred. On stage, the effect is dramatic, the contrast powerful and laced with meaning, eliciting a real sense of, perhaps sympathy for the (in this production), although clearly powerful, old and 'good' man, who will inevitably be destroyed by the disturbed Macbeth, played by Ian Mckellen. In this production Ian Mckellen plays Macbeth as quite intrinsic and thoughtful. Everything seems to pass through his (Macbeth's) mind at great depth and with vast process before the words are spoken. At first these though processes are powerful, and lend themselves to present the character as controlled, however as the play progresses this develops into deep despair, and not necessarily control, but a detachment from reason and instead, an attachment to thoughts of pain, suffering and the prophecy which lead him to believe himself indestructible.
Interestingly, the witches in this production seem influenced by the more traditional representations - strange creatures, each of the three with a slightly different persona, much like the concept of the 'Moirai Sisters'. They are unnerving and unsettling, appearing, then vanishing out of and into the darkness, much like the way Shakespeare illustrates them in the play.
The RSC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdIMzdm_neM - 2016 Dir. Michael Boyd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9GveRNPtPw
In the Michael Boyd RSC Production of Macbeth, the set design is heavily influenced by the historical and political context at the time, presented as a church, where religious figures are decayed or vandalised. There is a strong presence of religion, of heaven and hell presented through the concept of the set and the way certain characters are interpreted.
Differently to many productions of Macbeth - The witches are not three grown women resemblant of traditional representation, but the three children murdered by Macbeth in his bloodthirsty struggle for the crown. Echoing laughter and the sound of children's footsteps haunt Macbeth and his decisions.
In this production Macbeth, played by Jonathan Slinger is drastically wracked with guilt, almost from the beginning, it is as though he knows what he is going to do and this only pushes him further into his despair and resent - this is supported by the fact that the three children (witches) are presented as dead, hanging on meat hooks as the play begins. Jonathan Slinger is very emotive and expressive with his interpretation of Macbeth, he is clearly disturbed and presents this very outwardly to the audience, it seems his face is constantly a reflection of his pain and suffering within.
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