Original writing Letter
Cristina Popa Passage Linck 4 207 Geneva Switzerland 7.11.2004 Mr. John Edward Smith, Rue Ferrier 202 Geneva Switzerland Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to you to propose a new concept of the famous play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. I am hoping that you will find it has potential, and that your theatre will turn it into as good a play as the ones you have produced so far. This new version of Macbeth will take place in Ancient Greece rather than in Scotland as in the original play. I have chosen this setting for several reasons. Firstly, the play would be more convincing and better understood by the audience if it were to take place in Ancient Greece, as during that period there were conflicts and situations very similar to the ones that make the central themes of Macbeth (for example, the lust for power, betrayal, and Fate's role in people's lives and destinies). Another reason for choosing Ancient Greece as the setting of the play is that it would have a grater impact on the audience. As you must already know, the Ancient Greek theatre set decorations were very simple, as were the costumes, and the acting was more dramatic. So it would make a greater impression on the audience, because their attention would be drawn towards the meaning of the play itself, rather than the set or costumes. Also, more people would understand the context of the play, since its
Samantha Bond and Sean Bean starred in Edward Hall's production of Macbeth, which opened in the west end's Albery theatre on November 14th 2002.
Non-fictional writing Macbeth Samantha Bond and Sean Bean starred in Edward Hall's production of Macbeth, which opened in the west end's Albery theatre on November 14th 2002. I suppose it was unfair to the cast of Macbeth, but I was rather wary of the production, I expected little more than a competent performance from well-known actors who were trying to create a more 'serious' image and re-launch their careers. I found it difficult to envisage Sean Bean, a James Bond and Lord of the Rings veteran, playing convincingly the torn and unpredictable Macbeth. I, therefore, entered the theatre with what I hoped to be insufficient expectation. I wondered as to the ability of Sean Bean's acting, viewing him more as a box office draw than as a serious Shakespearean actor. My doubts were confirmed as Bean strode around the stage in a leather coat, unshaven and barking in his flat Yorkshire accent the great words of one of Shakespeare's more established plays. Sean Beans acting was, at its best, wooden, and highlighted by Samantha Bonds far superior understanding of Shakespeare's use of language and verbal antithesis. It seemed apparent that Sean Beans casting and the plays production was aimed primarily at the vast numbers of GCSE students due to visit the theatre. The sexual electricity between Macbeth, the witches and lady Macbeth accompanied by periods of obviously intended
MACBETH Act 4 Scence 1
MACBETH Act 4 Scence 1 Having considered my own expectations of Act 4, scene 1, I expected it to be a turning point for Macbeth and to highlight Macbeth's lack of control at this time. The scene creates an eerie atmosphere from the beginning with the witches round a cauldron. This atmosphere and sense of what is going to happen draw's the audience's attention at this time. During the scene Macbeth goes to the witches for reassurance. He has committed a crime. He has murdered to become king. It is in his mind, and he feels guilty. Scotland is in turmoil and he is struggling to hold onto power. He needs more information to make himself feel better. He sees the witches as being able to show him this information because they have told him what was going to happen before. This is not the first time we see the witches, infact they open the first act and reoccur throughout the play. The first time Macbeth meets the witches they tell him that he will be king and that Banquo would not be king, but his children will be. Macbeth hopes they will tell him more. The scene is important because it represents the place of evil in the plot. Macbeth has become king through evil means and now goes and sees the witches who are also evil. His vision of the apparitions is not the first time he sees something from the unnatural world. Also in the play he sees a death vision of a dagger pointing
Comparison of two different productions of Macbeth
English Coursework: Shakespeare and Media Shakespeare and many other writers of the Elizabethan time used soliloquies. The meaning of soliloquy is as follows, you share your thoughts, and thus giving the audience further insight into your characters and events. A soliloquy reveals a characters deepest thoughts and fears. Macbeth soliloquies enable us to understand Macbeth because a soliloquy indicates what a persons current thoughts are about a certain situation at that time, or what the person is thinking of doing at the minute. Throughout the three soliloquies we see the steady progression where Macbeth goes from a moral, good man to a murderous, evil man. I think that the RSC Production was far more traditional, I thought this was much more effective. Overall I thought the RSC put on a better production. Before Macbeth starts soliloquy one, Lady Macbeth greats Duncan at the gates of Macbeth Castle along with Malcolm, Donalbain and others. She welcomes him by giving the impression that everything has been done twice, and then done it again. That would say to someone that they respect Duncan greatly and that they want to make a good impression, when infact they are planning on killing him. In the Soliloquy we see a somewhat nervous Macbeth. As the soliloquy continues we can see Macbeth realising more and more that he is doing something wrong. You can also see quite clearly
How does the representation of the witches in Roman Polanski's and The Royal Shakespeare Company's adaption of Macbeth differ and what effect does this have on the audience?
How does the representation of the witches in Roman Polanski's and The Royal Shakespeare Company's adaption of Macbeth differ and what effect does this have on the audience? The representation of the witches in Roman Polanski's and The Royal Shakespeare Company's adaption of Macbeth differ and have quite an effect on the audience. For the three witches, the directors have casted two old women and one young woman. They have not been conveyed as stereotypical witches with pointy hats, black cats and broom sticks, but as three women dressed in black with an element of evil about them. I feel that by doing this, it makes them seem more wicked and inhuman as they cannot be categorized as witches straight away. In both productions, the witches are dressed in dark rags and look quite unclean. Also, in The Royal Shakespeare Company's version, there is a stark contrast between good and bad, with the witches in dark colours and the priest in white. Their faces are all disfigured, weathered and unsmiling with old, grey skin and high, and weary voices. In Roman Polanski's version, the witches' movements say a lot about what they are doing. They all moved hunched up, with quick, shifty movements, not wanting to be seen and showing they are up to no good. The witches didn't interact very much, they didn't talk unless necessary, went about there business and said a few words at the end,
What part do the witches play in Shakespeare's Macbeth?
What part do the witches play in Shakespeare's Macbeth? I am illustrating my answer by outlining how I would produce a play, concentrating on the witches' scenes. Setting I would set my production of Macbeth in the time that it was written as, because in this age people strongly believed in witchcraft, I feel that the play would make more sense and mean a lot more. An important point to realise is that in Shakespeare's time witchcraft was a substantial issue, people believed in it and it was a serious offence to be a witch and old women with pets or living on their own where prime suspects. Therefore to the people of that period the witches were real and so I think that to present the play purely in psychological terms would not fit in with setting the production in Shakespeare's time. Scenes A1, S1 - I would start my first scene with loud thunder and lightening to grab the audience's attention, also this gives the audience a sense that bad things are about to happen. It is important that the witches interest the audience at the beginning of the play by making the scene dramatic but also realistic. Therefore the first lines in this scene should be said clearly, as they are our first introduction to the witches and Macbeth and after this we know a little about what is happening in the future. I think we meet the witches first in the play to show the evil that is going
Macbeth Theatre Analysis
Evelina Pogoriler Reader's Theatre The show Macbeth that was written by William Shakespeare was presented in Washington Square Church by New Perspective Theatre Company. The director of that show was Melody Brooks. This show contained many elements of presentational theatre but it was representational performance. This play involved many actors, where some actors had more than one role to perform. Actors spoke sometimes directly to the audience. It was unusual setting because it took place in the church. The audience sat in alley. They were guests of the house. Most of the time action took place in the center, between the two rows where the audience sat. The spectacle elements were used but they were more suggestive then literalized. The set was designed by Meganne George. The two rows of chairs aligned on left and right. This was one of the types of reader's theatre staging. On the far end there is a table (used in religious ceremonies) that was used for feasts. A cross hanged on the wall next to a table. There were stare cases on left and right to the balcony. And the floor was wooden. This performance had no curtains and scenes did not change in darkness, in that it was presentational performance. The scenes were continued without intermission. The door was present. In the beginning the audience came through the door and later the same door was used
In this essay I will look at two different views on the production, "Macbeth," originally written by William Shakespeare and how two different directors have used their imagination to create suspense and excitement in the opening scenes of the play.
The opening scene to any production is probably the most important scene of the whole play. This may be for a film, book, or in this case a stage production. The opening scene will set out the genre for the play and the main characters. The opening scene has to create suspense, be intriguing and also capture the attention of the audience. This is very important because if the opening scene is not interesting then the audience may lose interest and may not continue watching. In this essay I will look at two different views on the production, "Macbeth," originally written by William Shakespeare and how two different directors have used their imagination to create suspense and excitement in the opening scenes of the play. This is often described as "bringing the page to the stage" I will look at the opening scene of Shakespeare's production and also Polanski's production of the same play, "Macbeth" From the start Polanski is at and advantage as he has the use of technology to help him create the desired effect but with Shakespeare, he didn't have such aids. AS a brief description of the opening scene, there are three witches who come together to cast a spell. The overall objective is to create suspense and a sinister atmosphere. For the stage notes from Shakespeare he wrote the opening scene should be set, "in an open place." Polanski has interpreted these directions
Compare the techniques used in the opening sequences of Roman Polanski's film of 'Macbeth' and the film of Trevor Nunn's RSC production of 'Macbeth'
Compare the techniques used in the opening sequences of Roman Polanski's film of 'Macbeth' and the film of Trevor Nunn's RSC production of 'Macbeth' Act 1 scene 1 of Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth' opens with the three unnatural beings of the play, the witches. The opening of Shakespeare's play is set on a baron heath quiet and deserted the perfect place for weird happenings especially with the claps of thunder in the background. This omits an eerie atmosphere and leaves you in no doubt about the nature of the play. It's going to contain 'toil and trouble' murder and pain as blood is a key symbol in this play. Roman Polanski and Trevor Nunn set their plays in very different ways and though each of the openings contains the same speech the characterisation differs. The establishing shots for each film are at a variance. Polanski's is a desolate beach at sunrise, the blood red sky reflecting off the rippled sand peacefully. The red sky signifies the bloodshed in the play. After the red sky has dissolved, the day broadens. Calm falls upon the vast expanse of land, this false sense of security is short - lived. The next cut is an extreme close up (ECU)of the stick drawing the circle in the sand . Polanski focuses upon their actions more than the witches themselves . I think this is because it shows their deadly and destructive side , and their unnatural behaviour when burying the
Study three dramatised interpretations of Macbeth
English Coursework Macbeth In this assignment I will study three dramatised interpretations of Macbeth and will analyse how successfully the directors were able to transfer script to stage. I will study the effectiveness of the witches and say if they are effective in today's modern society which isn't threatened by witchcraft. This first scene in "Macbeth" is crucial as it sets the atmosphere and the scene for the play. It introduces characters before we even get to meet them, for example Macbeth. It fascinates and astounds the audience also disturbing them as I discovered in Orson Welle's interpretation. The scene suggests things that occur later on in the play. It also suggests a presence of evil. Is Macbeth in charge of his destiny as he echoes the witches words, "fair and foul" later on in the play. Is everything as it seems? The three productions that I will study for this piece of coursework are: * Orson Welle's (film 1930s) * Roman Polanski (film 1971) and * BBC Shakespeare shorts (video production 1998) In the original text of Macbeth, Shakespeare opens his play in "an open place." We notice that in each of the different productions, each director picks a different location for this first scene e.g. cliff top, beach and a warehouse, but in each setting the locality is still an "open space". The directors tried to make the atmosphere and scenery as