Macbeth

Synopsis
A video recording, using a single, fixed camera, of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1986 production of Macbeth. Directed by Adrian Noble with Jonathan Pryce and Sinead Cusack as the Macbeths.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
3 Dec 1986
Duration
145 mins

Credits

Director
Adrian Noble
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Geoffrey Burgon
Production Design
Bob Crowley
Cast
Jonathan PryceMacbeth
Sinead CusackLady Macbeth
Peter GuinnessMacduff
Nicholas WoodestonMalcolm
Hugh QuarshieBanquo
Andrew BaileyMacduff’s son
Benjamin FellowsFleance
David BurkeKing Duncan
David KillickRoss
David TroughtonPorter
Dennis EdwardsOld Man
Dilys LayeWitch (1st)
Hannah YoungMacduff’s daughter
Henrietta SmethurstMacduff’s daughter
Jacob WilsonMacduff’s son
James MacaroMacduff’s son
Jeremy PearceMenteith
Joely RichardsonWitch (3rd)
John PatrickSiward, Earl of Northumberland
John Paul StreetsMacduff’s son
Joseph MydellDoctor of Physic
Joseph MydellCaptain
Mark LindleyYoung Siward
Max GoldMurderer (1st)
Max GoldAngus
Patrick BaileyDonalbain
Patrick RobinsonSeyton
Paul VenablesLennox
Penny DownieLady Macduff
Roger WatkinsMurderer (2nd)
Rosalind BoxallGentlewoman
Stan PrettyDoctor (English)
Stan PrettyCaithness
Susan PorrettWitch (2nd)

Additional Details

Theatre company
Royal Shakespeare Company
Production type
Stage Recordings
Plays
Macbeth
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items
Macbeth

Notes

Notes
The play was performed without an interval. The RSC technical notes on the video recording state ` a very dark show’.
General
David Troughton made a memorable Porter. His speech (much improvised) included the following ` knock knock’ joke.

Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Duncan
Duncan who?
Duncan Disorderly
History
Press night 11 November 1986. The production transferred to the Barbican.
Reviews
Billington, Michael. The Guardian (13 November 1986). Billington noted that Pryce and Cusack seemed to be ‘a childless Strindbergian couple for whom power became a substitute for parenthood’. Berkowitz, Gerald M. Shakespeare Quarterly 38 (1987), pp 495-500 (review-article).

Production Company

Name

Royal Shakespeare Company

Web
https://www.rsc.org.uk External site opens in new window
Address
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Waterside
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
CV37 6BB

Archive

Name

Shakespeare Birthplace Collections

Email
collections@shakespeare.org.uk
Web
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/collections/ External site opens in new window
Address
Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6QW

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Macbeth". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av38118 (Accessed 03 Oct 2024)