MACBETH
Aim: To think about how to approach Shakespeare and to consider its meaning in a variety of contexts.
In groups of three imagine the three witches on the heath and to play it straight.
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What sort of witches are they - old crones, young women, a mixture or each type?
Do they all come to the place at once?
Are they around a cauldron or are they doing some other sort of ritual?
Do they appear out of the mist from various places?
Might they begin as boulders which change into witches or a combination?
Remember, modern audiences aren’t frightened by witches as in Shakespeare’s time and we can’t just
rely on them ‘being there’ to disturb the audience.
SCRIPT EXTRACT
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.
1st Witch:
Where the place?
2nd:
Upon the heath.
3rd Witch:
There to meet with Macbeth.
The final word, 'Macbeth' can be said by the group of three, in unison, if you wish. How does this extract finish?
Do you freeze as if in a photograph? Do they move away silently as if drifting out into the mist?
PERFORMANCE
Show your versions to the class!
EVALUATION
What sort of atmosphere is created by each piece?
CHANGING CONTEXT
Try to reconstruct the same scene in one of the following styles:
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Nannies meeting in a park
I.R.A. terrorists
Mafia members
Children in a playgroup
Guards on duty at Buckingham Palace
Spies
"Ladies of the Night" at their usual corner (older groups)
Racing drivers at a pit-stop
Ballet dancers (great with lads who have a sense of humour)
British tourists abroad (looking for the sun?)