How does this version of Macbeth challenge the traditional versions of Macbeth?
Our version of Macbeth challenged the traditional versions of Macbeth as our production was more framed as a comedy rather than a tragedy, using a Blackbox Bow Theatre Round Stage, and including playful songs. The production was directed to be a comedy rather than a tragedy by the usage of playful songs, actions and play of words. This is notable in Michael and I’s scene ‘Is this a dagger?’ which in the end the two Bouffons make playful and comedic actions which takes you off the suspense of the story. We decided to add these actions in as we agreed that we did not have enough actions spread across the script but also to leave it on an action to help suit the mood of the next scene ‘Banquo’ (the song). We also used a Blackbox Bow Theatre Round Stage, which makes the audience more engaged with the play. So, we portrayed our version of the production to be more like a comedy rather, than the more traditional versions of Macbeth.
How do you think they have attempted to engage an audience, given that this is a schools touring production in the UK?
During the production that was done in the UK, they engaged with the audience by their usage of comedy, often breaking the 4th wall and occasionally bringing in a member of the audience to play a minor role for the play. By doing this it keeps the keeps the audience very engaged and the audience could potentially become a part of the play itself.
What are some of the artistic choices you like?
Some of the artistic choices which I liked that we did include the Satire Commentary in our usage of the Bouffons. By doing this, it helps the audience to better understand the general plot of the Macbeth play, but also takes a bit of the weight off the audience’s shoulders by what the Bouffon has said, whether it being comedic or to help understand the plot, and then sending them back to reality by the scene continuing with the actual characters. So, an artistic choice that we implemented in the production which I liked was the Satire Commentary.
What are some of the artistic choices you do not like?
I found that I disliked the lack of Directorial Vision. However, we did use directorial vision fairly often but it was with other actors instead of audience members so I feel as though it could have been more prevalent. I think that if we made the production so that it reaches more audience members, the experience of the audience would have been better. So, overall, I did not like the choice of the lack of directorial vision and how it only really focused on other actors instead of its intended purpose of being a member of the audience.
My thoughts on the Production
In Term-3 of 2023, we created a production of the Shakespearian Play Macbeth. I do think that my experience as an actor was quite fun and enjoyable, and I would like to participate in a production like this again. Although I disliked the fact that we would have to spend time outside of school in preparation for the performance. However, there was not too much we could do about this aspect. The overall finished production, I enjoyed. With the different mash-ups of everyone’s individual scenes of the play to make one big production. Although I think that based off the fact that we did not have all the scenes from the original Macbeth play, it could have potentially been slightly more difficult for the audience to understand what was going on. Not only this but there was a sudden change of plays in the middle of the production. Going from Romeo & Juliet to Macbeth all so suddenly. As well as this, but we also did not completely finish our Romeo & Juliet sequence. However, I did like the fact that in the Macbeth play, there were Bouffons to help with this cause of the audience not understanding what exactly would happen in each and every scene but also explain it as it happens. I like how we used this aspect of Satire Commentary due to this fact. Another factor that I liked about this production was the common usage of songs in the Macbeth production. The reason I like this is due to the fact that it distracts the audience slightly by introducing the feature of music to the play. This can be notable in the ‘Banquo’ Scene, where the three Bouffons sing about the tragedy of Banquo and what follows. This aspect is also beneficial for the play as it relieves the audience of the suspense of the play before dragging them back in again. So, my overall experience of the Macbeth production was generally positive and I would like to partake in a production like it again.
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