Background Information

• ‘Macbeth’ is set in various parts of Scotland

  These include: Macbeth’s Castle in Inverness, Dunsinane Castle, Birnam Wood, Macduff’s Castle in Fife, Witches’ Cave, Heath, Battlefield and camp and Forres Palace
• Theatre was an important form of entertainment
• There was no TV, radio or internet in Shakespeare’s time, so going to the theatre was really popular
• The theatre wasn’t just for the rich people
• Shakespeare’s audiences included servants and labourers
• Audience could get quite rowdy during performances
• The poorer people in the audience stood in front of the stage
• If it rained, the poorer people got wet
• The richer people sat in the covered galleries above
• Shakespeare’s theatre company was the King’s Men
• The King’s Men was previously called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men
• The King’s Men performed in the Globe Theatre in London
• The Globe Theatre was rebuilt

  1997
• It was illegal for women to act
• The women’s parts were played by young boys (even Lady Macbeth)