Macbeth Play Analysis

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‘Theatre speaks to the time it is created, not the time it was written’ Splendid Productions adaptation of ‘Macbeth’ Splendid Productions adaptation of ‘Macbeth’ was performed on the 13th of December 2016, at the RADA studios, London, and was performed by Scott Smith, Genevieve Say and Mark Bernie. The original version of Macbeth was written in 1606 during the Jacobean era, and the adaptation created in the 21st century. I would agree with the statement as the interpretation by Splendid was created to be enjoyed, engaged and relevant to the audience of the 21st century. During the Splendid adaptation, it was clear that they mainly focused on style, using a Brecht as an influence. At the beginning of the performance, the audience was greeted …show more content…

The costumes were multifunctional and were kept simple, white with stains of red and brown, whilst looking worn. The costumes were kept basic as it allowed for the performance to have no set date or time period, unlike the original performance conditions. Hats were used so that the actors could change from character to character easily without leaving the stage. For example, in IV.i; Mark Bernie, who played Duncan, transitioned from a servant into the infant ghost embodiment of Banquo by placing a baby grow, which was also used as his hat, under his chin. Alternatively, the costumes worn by Shakespeare's actors were nonspecific and numbered, as what they had, was all they had. Whilst deprived of costumed, companies were gifted with items of clothing that royalty discarded. Royal figures in Shakespeare's productions would be dressed in colours prominent with British royalty, for example, Cleopatra, in Antony and Cleopatra (1607), would not have been dressed in traditional Egyptian wear, but in a gown passed down from royalty. In modern performances this would distract the audience from the performance and would be seen as careless; though the costumes were basic in the modern performance, modern audiences have a higher …show more content…

This is due to the fact that the basic text can be linked to modern day events in fundamental politics and can be manipulated to adapt to the modern audience's’ expectations of

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