This is Macbeth

While Shakespeare’s plays are masterpieces of English literature, it is important for your students to remember that Shakespeare wrote for the stage, and was an actor himself.  Having your students engage in performance in class is a wonderful way to help them actively interpret the text, and gain insight into the multiple dimensions of the play.

Acting out Scenes

Macbeth has many wonderful scenes for students to act out in class, some of which we have included in our film.  Students should be encouraged to read instead of memorize the script, but spend some time fully understanding the lines that they say: why are the characters saying what they're saying?  What are they trying to convey, and how can students make this meaning clear as they speak? 

Extending the Interviews

Have your students reimagine one of the interview sequences from the film, or invent another interview with a character not present in the film: what does Ross think of the scene after Duncan's murder (II, 3)?  What is Lady Macduff thinking about, that she might not share with Ross or her son (IV, 2)?  Small groups of students can each choose their own interview sequence, or all groups can present variations on the same scene.  Have the whole group write out questions for the interviewer to ask; students can either write out possible answers in advance, or try improvising on the spot.