Macbeth − Learning Pack Contents
About This Pack ...... 1
Background Information ...... 2
Teaching Information ...... 3
Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis...... 5
Find Out More...... 11
1 Macbeth − Learning Pack
About
This learning pack supports the National Theatre’s schools’ production of Macbeth, directed by Justin Audibert, which opened on 6th February 2017 at the National’s Dorfman Theatre in London.
Our packs are designed to support viewing the recording on the National Theatre Collection. This pack provides links to the UK school curriculum and other productions in the Collection. It also has a plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you to jump to specific sections of the play.
1 Macbeth − Learning Pack Background Information Recording Date – 20th February, 2017 Location – Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre Age Recommendation – 12+
Cast
Lady Macbeth...... Madeline Appiah Macbeth ...... Nana Amoo-Gottfried Duncan ...... Ashley Gerlach Banquo ...... Kayla Meikle Malcolm ...... Ronak Patani Ross...... Sharan Phull Macduff ...... Jay Saighal Lady Macduff ...... Tripti Tripuraneni
All other characters are played by members of the Company
Creative Team
Director ...... Justin Audibert Playwright ...... William Shakespeare Adaptor...... Justin Audibert and the Company Designer ...... Lucy Sierra Lighting Designer ...... Paul Knott Composer and Music Director ...... Jonathan Girling Sound Designer ...... Mike Winship Fight Director ...... Kev McCurdy
2 Macbeth − Learning Pack Teaching Information
This production is particularly suitable for:
• English Literature students who are studying the play for GCSE. • Drama and theatre students who are studying the play • Anyone with an interest in contemporary staging of Shakespeare’s plays. • Anyone with an interest in theatre for young people. In particular you might like to explore:
• The director’s decision to relocate the action of the play to a post-apocalyptic world • How the music and sound design help to create the world of the play • The director’s decision to cast a woman in the role of Banquo
There are a number of other productions in the National Theatre Collection that relate to this one, which you and your students may wish to explore alongside it.
Other productions featuring members of the same creative team
Production Date Artist The Winter's Tale 2018 Justin Audibert - Director
The Winter's Tale 2018 Lucy Sierra - Designer The Winter's Tale 2018 Paul Knott - Lighting Designer
The Winter's Tale 2018 Jonathan Girling - Composer Romeo and Juliet 2017 Lucy Sierra - Designer Romeo and Juliet 2017 Paul Knott - Lighting Designer
3 Macbeth − Learning Pack Teaching Information
Other productions by William Shakespeare
Production Date Director
Coriolanus 2014 Josie Rourke
Hamlet 2010 Nicholas Hytner
Julius Caesar 2018 Nicholas Hytner
King Lear 2011 Michael Grandage
The Winter's Tale (Schools) 2018 Justin Audibert Twelfth Night 2017 Simon Godwin
Romeo and Juliet (Schools) 2018 Bijan Sheibani Othello 2013 Nicholas Hytner
4 Macbeth − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Differences to Shakespeare’s original*
A new version aimed at younger audiences, this adaptation of Macbeth by Justin Audibert and the company condensed Shakespeare’s play to just under 90 minutes.
• The characters of the Porter, Donalbain, Angus, Hecate, the Sergeant and the Old Man are cut. • The characters of Banquo and Ross are women. • The procession of Banquo’s eight future kings is cut, and instead the ghost of Banquo enters and picks up Macbeth’s crown, implying it will belong to his lineage.
*Using Arden Shakespeare Second Series edition of Macbeth
The Act and Scene in brackets indicate where the scene comes in Shakespeare’s original play.
Prologue: Amid rhythmic percussion music there is a large battle. Seemingly overwhelmed, Macbeth enters to save Banquo and turn the tide to victory.
Scene 1 (Act I, Scene iii) 0:03:03: Macbeth and Banquo encounter Three Weird Sisters, who address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor and as the future king. They also declare that though Banquo will not be king, his descendants will rule. The Witches disappear and Ross arrives to inform Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor.
Scene 2 (Act I, Scene iv) 0:07:24: King Duncan praises Macbeth and tells him that he wishes to stay with him at Inverness. Duncan announces that when he dies, Malcolm shall inherit the throne. Macbeth reflects to himself that his ambition to be king is hindered by Malcolm's new status.
Scene 3 (Act I, Scene v) 0:09:53: Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband of the Witches' prophecy and its partial fulfillment.
5 Macbeth − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
She is delighted, but fears that Macbeth's emotional weakness will prevent him from becoming king. Word arrives of Duncan's approach, and Lady Macbeth exults in the opportunity to kill Duncan. Macbeth arrives, and he is less enthusiastic, but she says that she will take charge of the murder.
Scene 4 (Act I, Scene vi) 0:13:38: Duncan arrives and is greeted by the Macbeths. They dance and drink.
Scene 5 (Act I, Scene vii) 0:14:55: Macbeth worries about his fate if he becomes a murderer. Lady Macbeth mocks him and fiercely stirs his ambition by questioning his manhood. He declares that he will go ahead with the murder.
Scene 6 (Act II, Scene i) 0:19:25: Banquo and Macbeth speak briefly about the Weird Sisters. Left alone, Macbeth sees a hallucination of a
6 Macbeth − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
dagger. He is terrified at the prospect of murdering the king, but he forces himself to proceed.
Macbeth murders Duncan.
Scene 7 (Act II, Scene ii) 0:24:00: Lady Macbeth has drugged the king's guards, and she awaits Macbeth's return. He comes to report that he has killed Duncan, but is horrified at what he has done and fears he’ll never sleep again. Lady Macbeth upbraids him for bringing the bloody daggers with him instead of leaving them in the hands of the guards as planned. She goes to complete the deed as there is a knock at the gate.
7 Macbeth − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Scene 8 (Act II, Scene iii) 0:27:10: Lennox and Macduff arrive, and Macbeth greets them, pretending to have just woken up. Macduff leaves to wake Duncan. He reappears and cries that the King has been murdered; he raises the alarm as Macbeth runs to the chamber. Macbeth returns and reports that in his fury he killed the guards, who he says are the murderers. As the group departs, Malcolm stays. He fears he will be suspected of the murder so flees to England.
Scene 9 (Act II, Scene iv) 0:31:29: Ross tells Macduff that Malcolm’s fleeing has made him appear guilty of the murder and Macbeth will be crowned in his place.
Macbeth is crowned King.
Scene 10 (Act III, Scene i) 0:32:35: Alone, Banquo voices suspicion on how Macbeth became King. Macbeth enters and there’s tension between the two. Banquo leaves and Macbeth plots how to murder his friend, lest the prophecy of Banquo’s lineage comes true. He instructs two Murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance.
Scene 11 (Act III, Scene ii) 0:37:01: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss how they cannot sleep and the danger Banquo presents. Macbeth hints at the plot he has set in motion.
Scene 12 (Act III, Scene iii) 0:40:19: The Murderers attack Banquo and Fleance, killing Banquo but Fleance escapes.
Scene 13 (Act III, Scene iv) 0:41:25: At a banquet, a Murderer reports on the events to Macbeth. Macbeth sees a vision of Banquo’s ghost which no one else can see. This disrupts the banquet which eventually disbands. Alone, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he will consult the Weird Sisters.
8 Macbeth − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Scene 14 (Act IV, Scene i) 0:49:25: The Weird Sisters are creating a potion when Macbeth arrives. They give Macbeth a gas mask, which allows him to hear three statements: firstly to beware Macduff, secondly that no man born of woman can harm Macbeth, and finally that he will not be conquered until the forest of Birnam marches to Dunsinane. They leave and the Murderer enters, telling him Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth instructs him to go to Macduff’s castle and murder his wife and children.
Scene 15 (Act IV, Scene ii) 0:54:54: Ross tells Lady Macduff that her husband has fled Scotland. The Murderer enters and kills Lady Macduff and her son.
Scene 16 (Act IV, Scene iii) 0:58:06: In England, Malcolm and Macduff mourn the depravity of Macbeth’s Scotland. Ross enters and tells Macduff that Macbeth slaughtered his family. Macduff vows revenge, and he and Malcolm prepare an army.
9 Macbeth − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Scene 17 (Act V, Scene i) 1:05:58: Observed by a Gentlewoman and a Doctor, Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and raves about blood on her hands. In her trance she references the murders of Duncan, Lady Macduff, and Banquo.
Scene 18 (Act V, Scene iii) 1:10:06: Macbeth boasts that he does not fear the invaders because of the assurances of the Weird Sisters. The Doctor reports that Lady Macbeth is troubled by hallucinations, which he cannot cure. Macbeth insists he find a cure as he continues to huff the Weird Sisters’ gas mask.
Scene 19 (Act V, Scene iv) 1:13:40: At Birnam Wood, Malcolm orders his soldiers to use foliage from the trees to provide camouflage.
Scene 20 (Act V, Scene v) 1:14:30: Macbeth hears a woman cry. Seyton enters and tells him Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth laments, and reflects on the meaninglessness of life.
Scene 21 (Act V, Scenes vii - viii) 1:17:15: The battle takes place and Macbeth is pinned back. Macduff finds him, they fight and Macbeth tells him he cannot die to ‘one of woman born’. Macduff reveals he was the child of a cesarean section. Macbeth is desolate, but resolves to fight regardless. They exit fighting.
Scene 22 (Act V, Scene ix) 1:20:48: Macduff returns with the blooded gas mask of Macbeth, having slain him. He hails Malcolm as King of Scotland. Malcolm declares his supporters Earls, and promises an end to tyrannical rule.
The End
10 Macbeth − Learning Pack
Find out more
Watch
Our general Shakespeare content:
Shakespeare at the NT: The 21st Century
Shakespeare at the NT: Writer for Today
Performing Shakespeare This series of videos introduces a younger audience to some of the fundamental roles in the theatre, to help them understand the different people who work together to bring a play to life.
What is an Actor?
What is a Director?
What is a Designer?
What is a Composer?
What is a Playwright?
Listen
James Shapiro talking about England in 1606, the year in which this play was written.
11 Macbeth − Learning Pack
Find out more
Explore
The National Theatre’s digital exhibitions on Google Arts & Culture, including Shakespeare at the National Theatre.
More materials relating to the production including the costume bible, poster, programme, stage management reports and more are held at the National Theatre Archive, which is free to visit. Find out more here: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/archive
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