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Overview

Synopsis

Heroic Macbeth has just won two victorious battles for Scotland, when he encounters three weird sisters who tell him this is only the beginning of his path to glory. They foresee that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor, and then, ultimately, the King of all Scotland. At first, the honest and upright Macbeth ignores the predictions, but when he is bestowed with the first of those two titles, he starts to yearn for the second. Drunk on his own success, Macbeth feels invincible, and--with the encouragement of his ambitious wife--he takes the realization of his predicted fate into his own hands. After murdering his friend and sovereign, King Duncan, Macbeth disappears further down the path toward destruction and despair, even as he is tortured by questions of conscience. He has always been a masterful warrior, but applying the rules of war to life at home becomes much more complex. Shakespeare’s Macbeth reveals to us the danger of ambition, crafting a terrifying parable in which great people are destroyed by the power of their own success.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1606
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
scotland, medieval britain
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, High School, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Star Vehicle Female, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Macbeth

Lead

Male

Spoken

Lady Macbeth

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Banquo

Supporting

Male

Spoken

King Duncan

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Malcolm

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Macduff

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Siward

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Ross

Supporting

Male

Spoken

The Three Witches

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lady Macduff

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Donalbain

Featured

Male

Spoken

Lennox

Featured

Male

Spoken

Seyton

Featured

Male

Spoken

Fleance

Featured

Male

Spoken

The Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher