Main content

Macbeth: Something wicked this way comes...

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair", "Is this a dagger which I see before me?", "Out damned spot!", "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble", "One fell swoop".

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's best-known and most quoteable plays. Set mainly in Scotland it is a tragic examination of the consequences of power and political ambition on the title character and his wife. During its history Macbeth has attracted many of the world's greatest actors to its leading roles, from Richard Burbage (the likely first Macbeth), via Sarah Siddons, Henry Irving and Ellen Terry to stars of today including Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. It has also been reinterpreted across other media including dance, opera and the visual arts.

On this page we've gathered together a collection of Macbeth performances and other "honest trifles" from the 主播大秀 and our partner organisations.

"Lay on Macduff"!

Shakespeare's Globe - watch the Macbeth film from the Complete Walk

Shakespeare's Globe The Complete Walk: Macbeth

Starring Joseph Millson, filmed at Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death, Shakespeare's Globe has assembled an all-star cast to make 37 short films - one for each play - and here's the twist: each lavish 10 minute vignette is made on location in the real setting of each plot.

Lady Macbeth, played by Vicky McClure

Lady Macbeth, played by Vicky McClure (Line of Duty, This is England), summons up her demons in this soliloquy from Act 1 Scene V in Macbeth.

This menacing and dark film, directed by David Wilson (Colonel Blimp productions), is the fourth film in the British Council’s series of modern re-imaginings of Shakespeare and combines performance with Manga animation.

Contains adult themes.

More Macbeth from Shakespeare Lives

Watch a clip from the 主播大秀 TV Macbeth production from 1983

主播大秀 TV Shakespeare Macbeth (1983)

Watch a clip taken from the complete 主播大秀 TV Shakespeare broadcast between 1978 and 1985.

In this clip from Act 1, Scene 3 Macbeth and Banquo encounter the three witches who make some startling prophesies about their futures...

Featuring Nicol Williamson as Macbeth and Ian Hogg as Banquo, with Brenda Bruce, Eileen Way and Anne Dyson as the witches, Gawn Grainger as Ross and David Lyon as Angus.

Shake It Up!

, on the 主播大秀’s creativity website Mixital.

Find the basic Shakespearean ingredients there: location, character and dialogue and mix them up and make them your own.

Then upload your creation back on the Mixital site, share it with your friends and watch the site become a 'do-tube' of great short animations.

Shake It Up is targetted at a teenager audience to help the 主播大秀's public purpose of boosting the digital skills of young people, but everyone can have a go. Find out if you are a modern-day Macbeth or Lady Macbeth!

See Shake It Up in action

ShakeitUp - get creative with Shakespeare

Remix the work of the Bard. Cast a scene, give it your own spin and invent new endings.

Backstage at Verdi's Macbeth from the Royal Opera House (2011 production)

'Tomorrow' - a new Macbeth-inspired work from Rambert which gives physical life to the dark and dangerous world of Macbeth.

Shakespeare on Tour - discover performances of The Bard鈥檚 plays countrywide from the 16th Century to the present day.

Related Links