Current Play

The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Play

The Tragedy of Macbeth was witten by Shakespeare in the early 17^th century, somewhere between 1603 and 1607.

It is the shortest of William Shakespeare's tragedies.

Synopsis

The play revolves around the regicide of Duncan, King of Scotland, and the ramifications of that murder on the instigators - Lord and Lady Macbeth.

Throw in daggers, madness, epic battles and a trio of witches to bring one of Shakespeare's most famous plays to life.

The Curse

Over many years of performance, Macbeth has picked up a reputation of bringing a curse on the cast and crew of any group that performs it.

The particular catalyst of curse is mentioning its name in a performance space when not during a performance, and, as a result, is often referred to as The Scottish Play to avoid calling it by name.

Characters

Duncan	King of Scotland
Malcolm	Duncan's eldest son
Donalbain	Duncan's youngest son
Macbeth	a general in the army of King Duncan; originally Thane of Glamis, then Thane of Cawdor, and later King of Scotland
Lady Macbeth	Macbeth's wife and later Queen of Scotland
Banquo	Macbeth's friend and a general in the army of King Duncan
Fleance	Banquo's son
Macduff	Thane of Fife
Lady Macduff	Macduff's wife
Macduff's son
Ross Lennox Angus Menteith Caithness	Scottish Thanes
Siward	Earl of Northumberland, General of the English forces
Young Siward	Siward's son
Seyton	Macbeth's servant and attendant
Hecate	Goddess of Witchcraft
Three Witches	make the prediction of Macbeth becoming a King and Banquo's descendants being kings
Three Murderers
Porter (or Messenger)	gatekeeper at Macbeth's home
Scottish Doctor	Lady Macbeth's doctor
The Gentlewoman	Lady Macbeth's caretaker

Synopsis of Scenes

Act 1
Act 1, Scene 1:	A desert place.
Act 1, Scene 2:	A camp near Forres.
Act 1, Scene 3:	A heath near Forres.
Act 1, Scene 4:	Forres. The palace.
Act 1, Scene 5:	Inverness. Macbeth's castle.
Act 1, Scene 6:	Before Macbeth's castle.
Act 1, Scene 7:	Macbeth's castle.
Act 2
Act 2, Scene 1:	Court of Macbeth's castle.
Act 2, Scene 2:	The same.
Act 2, Scene 3:	The same.
Act 2, Scene 4:	Outside Macbeth's castle.
Act 3
Act 3, Scene 1:	Forres. The palace.
Act 3, Scene 2:	The palace.
Act 3, Scene 3:	A park near the palace.
Act 3, Scene 4:	The same. Hall in the palace.
Act 3, Scene 5:	A Heath.
Act 3, Scene 6:	Forres. The palace.
Act 4
Act 4, Scene 1:	A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.
Act 4, Scene 2:	Fife. Macduff's castle.
Act 4, Scene 3:	England. Before the King's palace.
Act 5
Act 5, Scene 1:	Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle.
Act 5, Scene 2:	The country near Dunsinane.
Act 5, Scene 3:	Dunsinane. A room in the castle.
Act 5, Scene 4:	Country near Birnam wood.
Act 5, Scene 5:	Dunsinane. Within the castle.
Act 5, Scene 6:	Dunsinane. Before the castle.
Act 5, Scene 7:	Another part of the field.
Act 5, Scene 8:	Another part of the field.