The Curse

• Some believed that the witchcraft within the pay is too authentic and therefore the play is CURSED
• Theory 1 - The spells are so authentic that whenever the words are mentioned on stage, the play puts a curse on itself
• Theory 2 - Real witches in Shakespeare's time were upset that he revealed their dark secrets and cursed the play themselves
• For 400 years, bizarre occurrences, mishaps, and even death have surrounded the play and its performances. Some actors refused to call the play by its actual name or quote from it unless they were performing it.
• Why do we think it's cursed? - From its performance, actor Mal Berridge playing Lady Macbeth died from fever
• Why do we think it's cursed? - Once the ban was lifted and was performed in the Glove theatre, the theatre burned down a few days later
• Why do we think it's cursed? - In Amsterdam (1672), the actor playing Macbeth substituted a real dagger for the blunted stage one and killed an actor