 It is believed that Macbeth was first performed between 1605 and  In this era there was a huge demand for new entertainment and the drama would have been produced immediately following the completion of the play.  Shakespeare knew that a play featuring witches would attract theatre goers and increase his audience and revenue.  He would also have been aware that King James I was extremely interested in witches and sorcery, having written a book called Daemonologie (Demonology) describing the demonic rites of witches.  Shakespeare really could not lose with Macbeth when it was performed in 1605, two years after James acceded to the throne of England.

 The real Macbeth took the throne of Scotland in 1040, after killing his cousin King Duncan I in a battle near Elgin in the Moray district of Scotland.  Duncan's eldest son, Malcolm, ended Macbeth's reign in 1057 by killing him in battle and later assuming the throne as Malcolm III.  The real Lady Macbeth's first name was Gruoch, although this is not mentioned in the play, and he was her second husband.

 This drama is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare.  The themes illustrated in the play include ambition, fate, deception and treachery.  Three witches decide to confront the great Scottish general Macbeth on his victorious return from a war between Scotland and Norway.  The Scottish king, Duncan, decides that he will confer the title of the traitorous Cawdor on the heroic Macbeth. Macbeth, and another General called Banquo, happen upon the three witches.

 The witches predict that he will one day become king. He decides that he will murder Duncan and Macbeth's wife agrees to his plan.  He then murders Duncan assisted by his wife who smears the blood of Duncan on the daggers of the sleeping guards.  A nobleman called Macduff discovers the body. Macbeth kills the guards insisting that their daggers smeared with Duncan's blood are proof that they committed the murder.  The crown passes to Macbeth. More murders ensue and a bloodied ghost appears to Macbeth.  Lady Macbeth's conscience now begins to torture her and she imagines that she can see her hands covered with blood.  What will happen to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

 There is no other superstition as well known in the theatre world as that of the "curse of Macbeth."  It is thought to be extremely bad luck to say the name "Macbeth" anywhere near a theatre.  Actors and theatre personnel instead, refer to Shakespeare's Macbeth as "the Scottish play."  Actors refer to the lead characters as the Mac-ers, Lady M, and other nicknames.  This superstition goes back to the 1600's.  Many felt that the witches incantations Shakespeare wrote, were in fact real and that was what led to many coincidental catastrophes.  The play has some major sword fights and battles that could give it more opportunities for accidents than other plays as well.

 If an actor accidentally mentions the name Macbeth they are expected leave the theater, spit three times, spin three times while cursing, and then ask permission to return to the theater.

 1606: First production. The boy playing Lady Macbeth became feverish and died backstage. Rumor has it that Shakespeare himself played the role.  1672: Amsterdam. The actor playing Macbeth substituted a real dagger for the stage dagger and killed the actor playing Duncan, in full view of the audience.  1703: Opening day. England was hit with one of the most violent storms in its history. 500 seamen died.  1849: a riot in which more than 30 people died at the Astor Place Opera House  April 9, 1865: Abraham Lincoln was reading passages from Macbeth (scenes following Duncan’s assassination) aloud to some friends. Within a week, Lincoln was himself assassinated.

 The third witch fell ill and died of a heart attack during the final rehearsal.  The actor playing King Duncan died of angina.  A witch was dancing around the cauldron, but would not maintain the tempo of the music. She collapsed and died on stage.  The set designer committed suicide.

 The director was nearly killed in a car crash. Lady M was badly bruised as well.  Laurence Olivier lost his voice and almost died when a weight from the stage lights came tumbling down.  The founder of the theater had a heart attack and died on opening night.  A member of the audience was hit by a fragment of Olivier’s sword and then died of a heart attack.

 His tights had been accidentally soaked in kerosene. He suffered severe burns on his groin and leg.

 1954: Company manager broke both legs in a car accident and an electrician sustained severe burns.  1961: Connecticut: One actor, while riding his bike, was hit by a car. One of the witches fell from a stage lift. One actor was found dying of stab wounds (the murdered was never found). The company manager was murdered in his Boston apt.

  History of the Curse (2 minutes)   One man’s story (1 minute)

  As you watch the video clip, make notes about what is going on in the scene and decide which version is your favorite (the best).  In a one page response, compare and contrast the three clips and explain which one you think is the best and why.