Macbeth − Learning Guide

About This Guide ...... 1 Background Information ...... 2 Teaching Information ...... 3 Production Notes Key Design Elements...... 5 Key Moments ...... 8 Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis...... 9 Find Out More...... 14

1 Macbeth − Learning Guide

About

This learning guide 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.

Here you’ll also find all the information you need to enable you to study the production and write about it in detail. This includes notes about all of the key elements from performance style to design. You’ll also find pointers for further research.

1 Macbeth − Learning Guide 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 G uide 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.

Other productions featuring members of the same creative team

Productions Artist The Winter's Tale Justin Audibert - Director/Adaptor

The Winter's Tale Lucy Sierra - Designer The Winter's Tale, Romeo & Juliet Paul Knott - Lighting Designer

The Winter's Tale Jonathan Girling - Composer The Winter's Tale, Romeo & Juliet Mike Winship - Sound Designer Twelfth Night, Les Blancs Kev McCurdy - Fight Director

3 Macbeth − Learning G uide Teaching Information

Other productions by William Shakespeare in the NT Collection

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 2018 Justin Audibert Twelfth Night 2017 Simon Godwin

Romeo and Juliet 2018 Bijan Sheibani Othello 2013 Nicholas Hytner

4 Macbeth − Learning Guide Production Notes

The following notes have been compiled to help guide you through the significant design and performance aspects as you watch the production, or to remind you of them after you have watched it. You may also want to make your own notes and form your own opinions on the effectiveness of these aspects as you explore the production.

Key Design Elements: Set

• Thrust configuration. Red and white pattern on the floor could represent bloodshed as well as royalty/the broken bloodline.

• Fairly bare stage, with opportunity to use levels, the window and an additional space within the structure as a room e.g. Duncan’s chamber. Allows multiple locations to be created with smaller items such as a toxic waste barrel (Witches’ cauldron), large green ‘Jerry’ cans as seats in the banquet scene.

• MacDuff’s house is also created using the window and the main stage.

• There is a bench in front of the main set structure on which the Witches sit and create choral speech/movement, and several key duologues take place.

5 Macbeth − Learning Guide Production Notes

Key Design Elements: Costume

There is a steampunk and modern influence on the costume design. There is a lot of black, grey, dark green and brown. In terms of texture, there is a lot of wool, metal, gasmasks, goggles/sunglasses, studs, woollen beanies, hoodies and fingerless gloves. The colours and textures create a futuristic, post-apocalyptic, modern atmosphere. Women wear dark red lipstick.

• Macbeth: Combat style trousers, small piece of tartan fabric hangs from his belt line suggesting the link with Scotland, heavy combat boots. Crown is made from metal eyelets, old & delicate teaspoons with the handles creating the spikes of the crown. Brown knitted collar to his leather waistcoat, wears an ammunition belt. • Banquo: Multi-layered, leather jerkin, knee-high boots, wide leather cuff on one arm, studded epaulet on one shoulder, various buckles and studs. • Lady Macbeth: Black lace up knee-high boots, a grey hooded cardigan cinched under a wide black leather belt, which suggests a corset. Quilted skirt, very angular, several different layers. She wears a tiara after becoming queen. She sometimes has a brown shawl to look particularly vulnerable. • The Witches: Various different greens, layered, with goggles/dark glasses, beanies, costumes need to be adapted easily because these actors play a number of different roles. All three witches wear the same colour palette to emphasise the power of the group and create a strong group identity. • Murderers: Various combinations of coats, scarves, hoods, sheepskin jerkin, dress worn over leggings, metal or leather masks that cover nose, mouth & chin.

6 Macbeth − Learning Guide Production Notes

Key Design Elements: Lighting

• The lighting for this production aims to create mood and atmosphere, location and time. • Consider how colour has been used to create mood – for example, when a red wash has created a sense of tension or foreboding, or when a more natural colour has been used to create the idea of daylight. • Which direction is the light coming from? • How are the transitions made from one scene or another? • Has the lighting designer used a snap or fade for each transition, and why is this effective?

Key Design Elements: Sound

• Live singing: Opening and closing song Jubilate (meaning “shout out in celebration”), cast sing in harmony, sometimes without lyrics, creation of soundscape. • Percussion: Use of metal and wooden poles, beat against themselves, and parts of the set. Created a strong rhythm, sometimes like a heartbeat, sometimes to show aggression and conflict. Xylophone and prayer bowl also used, and a drum played on stage. • Sound effects: Howling wind, a child crying, nocturnal animals and insects, thunderclaps, chiming bell.

7 Macbeth − Learning Guide Production Notes

Key Moments

You might like to consider these key moments in particular when you are studying the production.

• Opening: the use of music, singing and percussion to create a sense of optimism. Fight sequence to add sense of excitement and tension from the start. • Witches (0:03:15): Use of choral speech & whispering, being close together to seem particularly strange. Macbeth’s fascination shown by staring at them but Banquo staying further downstage and away from them because she is suspicious and unsure. • Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter (0:09:53): Very intense response, ritual of laying the dagger on the paper as she says, “come you spirits”. Cuts herself with the dagger and licks the blood – very ritualistic and violent, shows the lengths she will go to get what she wants. • Macbeth’s 1st monologue, “Is this a dagger…?” (0:20:25): He has just shouted for the first time, being told what to do by Lady Macbeth. He stares intently into the middle distance, using his vocal skills to suggest uncertainty in killing the king. When he kills Duncan, the king opens his eyes widely and looks terrified, making us feel sorry for him. The murder takes a long time as Macbeth uses violent thrusts to stab him. A solo male voice sings during this scene to create a sad atmosphere. • Discovery of Duncan’s murder (0:27:57): Lady Macbeth pretends to faint, stumbling and falling on the floor to suggest her ‘surprise’ and vulnerability –it is all an act. • Banquo’s murder (0:40:20): the murderers are multi-roled so the actors adopt northern accents and change costume. This affects their physical movement. The fight scene is fast-paced and uses the entire stage, she looks particularly vulnerable because she is on the floor, trying to crawl away whilst the murderers stand over her, threatening her before killing her. • The banquet scene (0:41:23): Macbeth (& Banquo’s) Jerry can is centre stage. Banquo stares at him, shakes her head and her face is bloody. She sits very still, contrasting with the speed of Lady Macbeth’s movement. Men wearing masks make the scene even more sinister.

8 Macbeth − Learning Guide 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. 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.

9 Macbeth − Learning Guide Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis

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 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

10 Macbeth − Learning Guide Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis

leaving them in the hands of the guards as planned. She goes to complete the deed as there is a knock at the gate.

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

11 Macbeth − Learning Guide Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis

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.

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.

12 Macbeth − Learning Guide 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

13 Macbeth − Learning Guide

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.

14 Macbeth − Learning Guide

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

Suggestions for Further Activity

Research other productions of Macbeth and consider the interpretive decisions that the director Justin Audibert has made when staging this production. Why do you think that he has chosen to set the play in a post-apocalyptic world? How successful do you think this is in supporting the original text and the themes of the play?

In this version of the play, Banquo is played by a woman. Discuss this decision in the context of the play and the contemporary setting. Compare Banquo’s role with that of Lady Macbeth, who has not been out fighting in the battles.

15 Macbeth − Learning Guide

Find out more

Research the work of Justin Audibert and other productions that he has directed. You might like to watch The Winter’s Tale, which he directed and is also featured as part of the National Theatre Collection.

In addition to being performed at the National Theatre, this production toured to schools across the country. Look closely at the set and note the simplicity of it and how the designer, Lucy Sierra, cleverly suggests the different locations. Think about how you would stage the play in your school hall or drama studio. You could put together a storyboard showing your suggested designs for each location.

We hope that you have enjoyed watching and studying Macbeth. Don't forget that there are many more fantastic productions to explore as part of the NT Collection. We hope that watching this recorded production has made you feel inspired to see and make live theatre. Why not find out what’s happening at your local theatre and how you can get involved?

This guide to support your viewing of the production was compiled by Teacher and Arts Education Consultant Susie Ferguson.

If you have any comments or feedback on our resources please contact us: [email protected]

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