Macbeth Production
Theme
◈
The main idea of the production is the conflict
between humanity and power.
◈
The production shows that throughout
BACKGROUND
Setting
◈ The production take place in ancient China, on the
beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period.
◈ At that period, one of the most strongest dynasties just
collapsed, and split to small nations. Wars happened
between nations and those nations to other nationalities.
◈ It is easy to show the conflict of people and their mind
for the reformation of society. The rules are reformed or collapsed. Even emperor of states were threated by
betrayed by ally, ministers or overthrew by other nations or generals.
◈ The society is falling to chaos, though the emperors still
controlled the most power of a nation, but there are
many powerful generals had enough power to threat the royal power.
◈ Cities and economics are grew and there are good
structure inside big cities. Roads and canals connected cities in different direction.
◈ It is the last time in China society that Generals had
enough power to threat the Emperor and after this period, the most power in court are hold by the civil officials.
◈ And women at that are still had right to influence their
Impact of Time and Place
◈ The time period and place I choose will have great
effect for Macbeth had more desire for become
king and to confirm his ruling. It is because in that period, most men had dream of one day being an emperor.
◈ At that period, the level of social class influenced
everyone. Even emperors wanted to find an ancestry to present he had noble blood. Lady Macbeth influenced by that, she did not have a great family, so she really wanted to present herself is better than the noble ladies.
◈
Also “family” is big goal for people lived in
that period. It is formed by many small
families. People all had idea like “family’s
benefit is much higher my own” and wanted
their family to continue for hundreds of years.
People from famous, big family had more
respect than normal people. That made
Macbeth really angry for his son can’t inherent
his throne in prophecy. Because he wanted his
glory could continue to all his posterity, not
Costume
◈ The costume is much different to clothes modern
time. The clothes are long and people no cut their hair. And at that different scene, social status or jobs need wear different costumes. In ancient China, the dress of Emperor presents the most thing in the world.
◈ Macbeth, Banquo, Duncan and Macduff will wear
official uniforms in formal scenes and wear armor in battlefield to protect themselves. Those all were limited by the rule.
◈
Lady Macbeth will wear her official uniform in
formal places too. But in home or other scenes,
she will wear luxury clothes for her great
ambitious to become better people.
◈
Costume in that period is an important sign to
show the social class of people. Some people
even could use costumes and accessories to get
detail of other’s live.
◈
And different apparel is suit for different
THEMATIC EMPHASIS
Nature of Humanities
◈ The nature of humanities will be show through the
action and thought of different people.
◈ Though darkness is strong and Macbeth ruled so cruel,
but there still people who not gave up, such as Macduff, wanted all the things back to “orthodox”.
◈ But there are also bad things for humanities, such as no
one really cared about “why Duncan died in Macbeth’s fief” or other questions to ask Macbeth after he become emperor.
◈ And the action by Macduff after heard death of his
family, showed that no matter how strong the appearance is, people’ mind is always weak.
Nature of Evil
◈
This would show by the three witches. Though
they did not do anything directly, such as
spread diseases, kill people, etc. but they lured
people fall into darkness by increases their
desire.
◈
Evil will also show from religion way, that
Duncan, Macbeth, or any other nobles believed
Taoism, but the three witches appeared in a
Nature of Temptation
◈
The temptation will be shown as the power,
social status.
◈
The three witches did not use any language
said that you could be better king or other
things. They use prophecy to show Macbeth
that you will be king. It is because the willing
in the deep mind of everyone, it just lack
Power
◈
Power is most important reason for Macbeth’s
change. The desire of power make Macbeth
and Lady Macbeth killed Duncan, and more
power made Macbeth became fear of lose of
power. His action become cruel and suspect
everyone. He become a real tyrant because of
power.
CHARACTERS
Macbeth
◈ A powerful, ambitious general at first. He then fall
in crazy, and become a tyrant who not believe anyone.
◈ He is the royal descent, but not lineage. But if
Duncan not have any children, Macbeth’s son
could changed his family name to the royal family name and take the throne after Duncan died.
◈ Macbeth’s birth made him had a little hope inside
mind that maybe one day he or his son would be emperor of the country.
◈ Macbeth much influenced by
his lives in the army. He more like talk directly instead of use language to hint anyone, and prefer his followers must
follow his order without doubt. Except his official uniform and armor, he wear clothes easy to move but luxury. It is because he had noble status and not a scholar who more wear easing and multilayer clothes. Stand or move like mixture of a noble and a soldier.
The normal clothes Macbeth wear
◈ I will choose Donald Chow Yun-fat as the actor of
Macbeth for he had play will for a soldier like character.
◈ And he had played a similar positive character before,
an emperor grow from a little soldier.
◈ He is had good skilled of playing, for he played many
different type of characters, he could more understand the character of Macbeth and showed it well.
Lady Macbeth
◈ Beautiful but ambitious. In my design production,
Lady Macbeth did not have a good birth. So she is very careful during her lives for avoiding make
anything wrong or not like a noble.
◈ She learn anything about a noble’s lives. Such as
walk slowly, not run fast or lift the dress, talks softly and keep her sound sweet.
◈ Follow the rules in the high social class, and hate
◈
In formal scenes, Lady
Macbeth need to wear
her official uniforms
which is related to her
husband’s title. But in
home, or other
unimportant places, she
always changed her dress
always use much
decoration and colorful
cloth.
◈ I will choose Gong Li as the actress of Lady
Macbeth.
◈ It is because at first she is good-looking and she is
not too old or too young for Lady Macbeth.
◈ Gong Li, had played many different character, had
Duncan
◈ In formal place, Duncan
will wear the emperor’s dress. But if the scene is not so serious, he would wear mufti which seem similar to others, but the color is yellow. It is
because at that time, yellow start becoming a symbol
color of emperor and empress.
Official Dress of Duncan
◈
Duncan is a kind emperor, though he did not
have much talent or so smart, but he believed
his ministers and do not think they will betray
him.
◈
He talks, stands or moves with leisurely, but
honorable for he educating to become an
emperor from childhood.
◈
Duncan believed Taoism which is the national
◈ I will choose Zhang Tielin as actor of Duncan. ◈ He is an old actor, had played several types of
emperor or king before. He really played well for that.
◈ And he looks like on the age that would have two
Banquo
◈ Banquo is born in a noble family, but the family
did not have so much power, they just have the
title of Marquis. Banquo had very far kinship with Duncan.
◈ Banquo is different to Macbeth that he firstly
educated as a civil officials. So he is influenced by the behavior of scholars, but he also hate hints
inside language.
◈ He stand and move is not so quickly, and not
◈ Banquo would not dress
every luxury, but the
clothes well suited for his identity.
◈ He preferred normal clothes
than armor or the official dress.
◈ He did not have so much
ambitious, in other words he would choose a safe original, not a dangerous but great road.
◈
I would choose Jiang Wen as actor of Banquo.
It is because he is also a good director in Chan,
he would much easier to understand the
character.
◈
And He had played a character is similar that
had well educated as scholar but also a brave
general.
Macduff
◈ He is an Earl and royal to Duncan and his country.
He believed that an emperor do not need to be perfect but need to listen other’s advises, and tolerant to citizens and ministers.
◈ In my design production, Macduff is more like a
civil officials though he had fought on the battlefield as well.
◈ He talked much more carefully than Macbeth, but
he did not thought everything carefully as his saying.
◈ The Macduff will wear
official clothes in formal scenes and he would wear simple clothes that did not have much decoration on it.
◈ Macduff valued his family,
and believed that a man’s wrong would not affect his family.
◈ He did not have good
relationship with Macbeth like Banquo. For Macbeth had opposed thought to him.
◈ I would choose Hu Jun to play Macduff for he
made play a famous loyal minister and played it very well.
◈ Hu Jun could suit both armor and official very
well, he had good skill of playing.
Three Witches
◈ The three witches are important role in my
production design, for they began the chaos and point out the ambition of Macbeth.
◈ The three witches in my design are not really
witches, they are more like sprites or goblins, for ancient China did not have the same definition of “witch” as Europe. They had long lives and strong power.
◈ They played the normal people’s lives as a show
for interesting, for luring people fall into evil and see their actions.
◈
The three witches would not
dress as the normal people
did, wear “strange” but
pretty clothes. They talked
things ambiguous, moved
more like slide and fly than
walk.
◈
The three witches are good
friends and partners. They
were hard to determine the
age.
◈ I would choose Tavia Yeung Yi, Kara Hui Ying-hung
and Sheren Tang as the actresses of the Witches.
◈ It is because all of them had present a great job for
acting and they all had played evil, negative character and won reputation for that character.
Malcolm
◈ Malcolm is the crown prince of the country. He is
educated about how to be a good emperor from childhood, but he had not yet join the court yet. He not really grow up until the death of Duncan.
◈ Malcolm will wear luxury clothes for he has the
social status to do that. He talk, stand and the other movement all contains the noble feeling.
◈ Malcolm had the idea that not everyone could be
trust from his father’s death.
◈ I would choose Edwin Siu as actor of Malcolm. It
is because I was impressed by the character he played as an emperor.
Lennox and Ross
◈ Lennox is a general and a earl who is loyal to
Duncan and the country. Ross is his friend, a civil minster with a title of Viscount. Ross had been
helped by Macduff when he not have high official, that is the reason Ross come to find Macduff. They did not like Macbeth’s ruling, believed that he is a tyrant, ruled the country in a wrong way. But they are really carefully for talking about the business.
◈ They wear their official uniforms for showing their
◈
I will choose Joseph Lee Kwok
Lun as actor of Ross. It is because
he had a similar character and
played it very well.
◈
I will choose KK Cheung as actor
of Lennox. He had a good skill of
acting and he had played a similar
character before.
Siward
◈ The Grand General of Liang. He
believed that the highest glory of a soldier is dying on the battlefield.
◈ He is loyal to his emperor and
fought for a long time. He wear his armor on battlefield, and simple clothes in lives which is much easy to do exercise. He always stand
straight and talk things straight.
◈ I prefer Zhang Minghe to play this
character. I had see him play another old, loyal veteran well.
SETS
Macbeth’s Castle
◈ It is not really a castle. It is a big private mansions in
the capital of his fief.
◈ It is important for major scenes happened here.
◈ The Castle has long history, and rebuild many times
to keep it luxury.
◈ It is worse than the Imperial Palace, but better than
Imperial Palace
◈ It present the most powerful place in the country
for emperor and empress lived here.
◈ Macbeth lived there after become emperor, and he
is always envy for Duncan lived inside.
◈ Huanyuan and Xuanzheng Halls located on central
The Temple
◈
The place Macbeth first met with the three
witches, far from the capital of the country.
But it is the most sacred place of the country
he destroy. Buddhism is a different religion to
the religion Macbeth believed.
SCENES
Scene I
(I iii)◈ The first scene is the beginning of the story.
Macbeth and Banquo defeated the enemy of their country and occupied their capital. They ride to the Sacred Mount where the Temple set on. Macbeth and Banquo did not find the famous National
Division of the country, instead they met three women. The witches gave Macbeth and Banquo prophecy that Macbeth is Marquis and will be
Duke and a great emperor. And Banquo’s posterity would be emperors. When Macbeth wants to know more details, they disappeared.
The Temple
Macbeth Banquo
Three Witches
◈ This scene locate in the Temple on Sacred Mountain,
outside the capital of Zhou’s capital. Macbeth and Banquo, wear armor for they just from the battlefield, ride horse to the Temple, faced it and then walk in. They let a team of soldiers wait outside of the Temple.
◈ The three witches, dressed in colorful clothes, stand in the
basilica, in front of Buddha's model. Macbeth and Banquo surprised to see them.
◈ Witches immediately move (or slide) in front of Macbeth
and Banquo, tell them that Macbeth would be Duke and then emperor, but Banquo’s descendants will be emperor also.
◈ Macbeth and Banquo are shock by that and think it’s
unbelievable. Macbeth run to the door want to stop witches, but the witches disappeared as smoke after walk out of the basilica.
◈ This scene is so important for it is the beginning of
the story. The three witches pull the desire hide in the deep mind of Macbeth.
◈ Macbeth was influenced by the prophecy, he began
to think that he may being the emperor. And he had begun to consider what need he do to achieve the prophecy – kill Duncan. But he immediately stop to imagine the probability of that. At this
scene, Macbeth still do not want to kill anybody to achieve his desire of power.
◈ On the other side, this scene will show the
supernatural power of the three Witches. And
Banquo’s mind – the prophecy is meaningless, and his decision of doing nothing.
Scene II
(II ii)◈ Macbeth decided to kill Duncan to get the throne.
After the Banquet of welcome of Duncan and
celebrate the success of Macbeth. But just before the banquet began, he had changed his mind, Lady Macbeth persuade him to continue and give him a plan to push the accusation to the guards. Macbeth finally killed Duncan in his castle when everyone fall in sleep. He tells Lady Macbeth about that, who did the aftercare, and then they go back to room.
Macbeth’s Castle
Lady Macbeth
◈ The scene first take place in a room near the main hall of
Macbeth’s large mansion which located in his fief. Macbeth is in his official uniform of Duke which is in the rule for
wearing which dress on which formal scenes. The official dress present Macbeth’s title and power, and he is the
master of the fief and minister of emperor. Macbeth first walk in a circle, talk to himself. After Lady Macbeth, who wear her official uniform of Duchess, come to find him, he talks to her about his concern for the plan about killing
Duncan, and show the desire to stop the murder.
◈ Lady Macbeth think Macbeth is coward. She look straightly
to Macbeth’s eyes, and denounced him for the victory is just a few steps far. Macbeth signs and picks up the confidence. She gives a plan about shrink the responsibility and frame about Duncan’s death. Lady Macbeth straighten his clothes, and hold his arm. They walked together into the main hall.
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth Sword
◈ Then the scene take place in the hallway in the
mansion. Macbeth in a simple clothes which is much easier to move, hold a bloody sword, absentminded and nervous. He was frighten by Lady Macbeth, who wear a normal, none decorations on hair or dress for it is in
midnight, but tell her that he had done the thing and say some meaningless words and sentences, such as “death” “murder”, “I can’t sleep” “blood on my hands” etc.
Lady Macbeth saw the sword and ask Macbeth angrily about why he not follow the plan. Macbeth refused to go back again. Lady Macbeth take the sword and send it back to the guards. After she come back, Macbeth and she walk very clothes and back to their room.
◈ This scene is important for it is a turning point of the
story. Macbeth did not have the made decision for killing Duncan then become the emperor. But in this scene, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had decided to kill Duncan to achieve their goal. Lady Macbeth is because of the desire to show she is better than most noble
ladies. The impact of witches’ prophecy on Macbeth is began to show more clear – Macbeth has began to
killing people for his own benefit.
◈ On the other side, Macbeth is still not blind by power,
for he had considering to stop the murdering before the plan began and he is also scared by the truth he killed Duncan. In this scene, Macbeth is in the conflict
between the bright and evil part in humanity. But Lady Macbeth’s advice become the fuse of pushing Macbeth into the darkness, the greedy.
Scene III
(III iv)◈ Macbeth finally being emperor, and Lady Macbeth
become the empress. For the prophecy of Banquo’ s son will be king, Macbeth decide to kill his friend Banquo. Before the banquet of celebrating the new emperor, Macbeth received the death news of
Banquo. But during the banquet, Macbeth saw the soul of Banquo. He is panicked, but stop by Lady Macbeth. But some ministers, such as Lennox and Ross guess the fact from Macbeth. At last,
Macbeth receives information that Macduff escaped to Liang.
Macbeth Lady Macbeth Banquo’s soul Lennox Ross Xuanzheng Hall
◈ This scene will take place in the Xuanzheng Hall which
is the hall for banquets in the middle court. All people in the banquet must wear official clothes. And Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will sit at the highest point in the
hall, the other ministers will be sit follow their title. Banquo’s sit is very near to Macbeth.
◈ Macbeth is a little late for the banquet for he first talks
with the killer who brought the death of Banquo. After he sit down, he would stared at the blank set of Banquo next to Lennox, and Lennox misunderstand Macbeth, talks about that Banquo cannot be back today to join the banquet. But Macbeth saw Banquo’s soul sit there with a pure white clothes with blood on. He then fall in to fear about the soul of Banquo would revenged.
◈ Macbeth immediately stand up, goes back a few steps,
and say something hard to understand without any
logic. Ross caught some words, and realize the scheme, so he said that Macbeth is drunk, want to escape. But Lady Macbeth hold Macbeth’s arm strong and said it just a disease. She pull Macbeth to the back of the hall and talk with him about what he saw that makes him so scared, and told him that Banquo is already died. Then Lady Macbeth lead Macbeth back to the banquet.
Macbeth try to concentrate to finish his work. He felt weird when the ministers bless Banquo.
◈ After the Banquet, he get news from his spy, which are
inside almost every noble’s home, that Macduff was escaped. That news brought him to wrath.
◈ This scene is still an evidence of the changing of
Macbeth due to the increasing of power. Macbeth begin to use death as a weapon to confirm his power. Even
Banquo is his friend. And not like the murder of
Duncan made him feel conflict. He made the order to kill Banquo without any doubt. He even feel relax when the killer told him that Banquo is died.
◈ And the idea of no one can be believed also appeared
that he monitored every ministers to find if they have the thought to overthrow or betray him.
◈ Lady Macbeth began to show her fear about others
know the truth of Duncan’s death, which made her felt angry about Macbeth’s saying.
◈ And some ministers began finding the hided truth about
Scene IV
(IV i)◈
Macbeth meets with the three Witches again,
want to know what could he do and listen more
prophecy about himself. The three witches
give him the new prophecy and comments.
And when Macbeth want to know more about
Banquo’s son, the three witches disappeared,
no one see them except Macbeth. The new
prophecy made Macbeth decided to kill
Macbeth
The Temple
Three Witches
◈ This scene happened in a temple similar to the Temple
on Sacred Mount. Macbeth went outside of the Palace wearing normal clothes with servants and guards. He then find a temple which is not there last time. He left the followers outside the door and walked into the yards by himself. Then he saw the three witches. He is so
surprised and asks them to do another prophecy for him, because he thought that he is emperor, and all people in his country must follow his order. The three witches say that their leader would give Macbeth
comments. Then he “hear” a sound which directly reach his mind, told him that pay attention to Macduff, human that birth from women cannot hurt him and he would be emperor until the forest moves. And Macbeth made the decision of killing Macduff’s wives and children
◈ This scenes is important because it is the time that
Macbeth changed completely. At first he felt guilty for the murder of Duncan, then he suit well for
order killers to end Banquo’s life, now he even wanted to kill innocent lady and children just because an unproved betray. Now the desire of power is full covered his eyes and mind, he fall into evil and can’t climb back to bright.
◈ The three witches, are seeing Macbeth as a movie
or a show which present them the things they want. They did not directly lure Macbeth into darkness, instead of they do the process step by step and
Scene V
(V vii)◈ Macbeth is failed. The revolt troops which lead by
Malcolm, son of Duncan were outside the Palace. Malcolm get the support from Liang and back to take his throne. Macbeth lost rapidly, for few
people support him. Lady Macbeth died one day ago. Macbeth did not believed that he would be killed for everyone all birth by their mother. But Macduff did not, he kills Macbeth and declare the death of Macbeth. Malcolm is the new emperor of the country.
Macduff
Siward
Malcolm
◈ This scene is take place in front of Huanyuan Hall,
which is on the outside court of the palace and the most important ceremony all held in the hall. Macbeth sit on the throne inside the hall and wear clothes as an
emperor to show that he is and will be emperor forever. On the other side, Malcolm (in clothes that is suit for his identity), Macduff (bring a sword with him for
revenging) and Siward (wear simple armor for easy to fight) entered Palace together after a hard battle in the gate of the Palace. Macduff immediately went into the hall while Malcolm and Siward stand outside for
looking the aftermath of battlefield. Macduff entered the hall with wrath which accumulated from day of death of his family.
◈ Macbeth knew Lady Macbeth’s death from servant
and show indifferent to the news. Macbeth refuse to suicide as an emperor. He believed hat no one could hurt him, so he wait on the throne in
Huanyuan Hall. He ricidules Macduff that he can’t do anything for revenge for he can not be hurt by any one birth by women. When Macduff told him that he is not, Macbeth fall into fear and anxiety about how to save his life, and believed that’s
witches’ mistakes to confuse him. Macduff killed him and brought head outside. People cheer about death of Macbeth. They kneel and celebrate
◈ This scene is the end of the story, it contains the
death of Macbeth. Macbeth did not realize his wrong even to the last moment of his death.
◈ The evil is punished and the positive side finally
win the war.
◈ Macbeth is eroded by the feeling of great power.
His desire is caught and enlarged by the witches.
◈ Macbeth miss himself on the way for seeking
power.
◈ The nature of humanity is not simple positive or
negative, but determined by the environment of people.