FLORIDA SHAKESPEARE THEATER
MACBETH
Educational Materials
Feel free to use any of the maps, diagrams, scripts or lesson plans that are on this page.
Check back often, as we will be adding more material!
ACTIVITY: WRITING
Compare and Contrast the openings of 5 different productions of Macbeth
Shakespeare didn't leave directors much to go on in his scripts other than his beautiful words. There are very few stage directions and zero notes about setting in all of Shakespeare's plays.
Each director decides on the period and setting of the play. She also selects the setting, costume style, and how the characters appear and how they interact with each other.
ACTIVITY
Watch the opening scenes of the five different film interpretations of the play, Macbeth in the video clip above.
Describe the setting, location, costumes and the witches in each scene. How do the actors portray the witches?
Using the script below for Act 1 scene i, , find similarities among all five depictions of the witches. Do they follow the script?
How did each director use the text to tell his or her story?
How did each director use setting to tell the story?
Which one did you like the best? Why?
Which one didn't tell the story as well as the others?
How would you interpret the scene? Where would you set it? What would your witches be like? How old would they be? What would they wear?
SHAKESPEARE'S WORDS
ACT 1 Scene 1
Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches.
FIRST WITCH
When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
SECOND WITCH
When the hurly-burly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.
THIRD WITCH
That will be ere the set of sun. 5
FIRST WITCH
Where the place?
SECOND WITCH
Upon the heath.
THIRD WITCH
There to meet with Macbeth.
FIRST WITCH I come, Graymalkin.
SECOND WITCH Paddock calls. 10
THIRD WITCH
Anon.
ALL
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
They exit.
This document is a map of Macbeth's Scotland. Click to download.
This document is a character map of Macbeth. Click to download.
This document is a full script of Macbeth. Click to download.
This document is a list of the main themes of Macbeth. Click to download.
FLORIDA SHAKESPEARE THEATER'S INTERPRETATION OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S MACBETH ACT 1 SC 1.
PRE-OPEN PART 1
A bog in ancient Scotland. The stage is dark. Fog blankets the ground around a dance of ancient standing stones.
Faintly at first, then louder we hear the witches chanting. We look up and behind us. We see them at the back of the house. Standing still and chanting.
WITCHES
ALL
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Their voices fade as the noises, screams and sounds of a horrible battle overtake us. We also hear war drums.
Lights up full.
A battle rages over the stage as fighters race towards each other in groups to fight for their lives with swords and pikes. We see skirmishes that move on and off the stage, the crazed battle scene coalesces and focuses on a fight between Macbeth and another noble. Macbeth flices the man open from his stomach to his chin. He holds up his sword and roars The soldiers celebrate with their leader in a mighty roar of victory. They drag the dead bodies off the stage.
Blackout..
Lights up on the witches at the back of the stage. One holds up a baby doll and she sticks a knife into it’s stomach as the witches chant:
ALL
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
FIRST WITCH
When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
SECOND WITCH
When the hurly-burly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.
THIRD WITCH
That will be ere the set of sun. 5
FIRST WITCH
Where the place?
SECOND WITCH
Upon the heath.
THIRD WITCH
There to meet with Macbeth.
ALL
Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.