Thursday 14 June 2018

Macbeth

Originally performed at the Globe Theatre in Southwark London. Southwark was known for its drinking establishments, gambling dens, bear baiting and cock fighting entertainments and prostitution. This was one of the many reasons why actors had a reputation as being hard-drinking fellows who consorted with drunks and prostitutes. The theater in Elizabethan and Jacobean times was basically a courtyard, surrounded on three sides by tall raised balcony areas. At the center and to the back of the courtyard was a raised stage, above which hung a depiction of the heavens — a blue roof, fretted with golden stars. The stage contained a trapdoor through which ghosts could appear and into which the souls of the damned could disappear. At the back of the stage was a curtain leading to the actors' dressing area. The courtyard would open to the sky, so lighting was largely natural, but in some indoor theaters or palaces such as Hampton Court, where Macbeth was first performed in 1606 in front of King James I, candles were probably used to create an artistic tension between natural and "unnatural" (or artificial) light. Lady Macbeth has a candle "by her continually" in Act V, Scene 1, by which time natural light may well have already become gloomy. 
The Witches are a vital component of the play because their prophecies in Act I, Scene 3 and Act IV, Scene 1 provide Macbeth with motivation for his actions. Banquo gives a hint as to their appearance when he refers to their chapped fingers, skinny lips, and beards. The Three Witches or Weird Sisters or Wayward Sisters are characters in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth (c. 1603–1607). They hold a striking resemblance to the three "Fates" (in Greek mythology), and are, perhaps, intended as a twisted version of the white-robed incarnations of destiny. 
During the play, blood and time are two keywords.. Blood appears as a real substance throughout. In the second scene, the blood stained sergeant comes on stage to report on the battle of Duncan. It is also evident when Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macduff are murdered. The witches also use blood in their potion. We used it as the witches, once during the apparitions scene for the second apparition and then again when Lady Macbeth has her monologue when she is 'sleep walking' and 'washing blood off her hands' , we covered her in blood. In that instance, it is used as a sign of guilt. By repeating the word blood, Shakespeare stresses to the audience the horror that is happening. Time is an important aspect of the play, and by referencing it in Macbeth, it shows that as time passes events become more intense and consequences worsen and are more significant. Macbeth believing the witches see into the future gives a sense of power to his actions. Time seems to pass more quickly as the play progresses and this adds to the tension as the play moves towards its final climax.

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In made in Dagenham, it took me while to get into character and have good characterisation. I think this was due to my lack of confidence of...