Macbeth

The Casting Game
Read the following descriptions of Macbeth and his wife:

The Macbeths are an impatient, power hungry couple. Already of a high standing at Court they want more and they want it now.

Macbeth - is an active soldier and a very good one too. He is seduced easily by the idea of the more glittering future that the Witches suggest he will achieve. He is not the true politician of the pair and could be seen to be manipulated by Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth - certainly has a great deal of power over Macbeth. Is it love, lust or even fear? She is ambitious for herself as well as for her husband. She is very tactical and intelligent. She is the power behind the project.

Together they make a very dangerous pair for any one in their way!

Try this
1. Imagine you are a casting director. Casting directors have to find a range of suitable actors for the director to meet and audition for parts in a play. It might help you to write a casting breakdown for the two characters which details some of the qualities you are looking for.

Using the text as your evidence, write your own description of a) Macbeth and b) Lady Macbeth. You might like to think about:

Age - are the Macbeths in their 20s? 30s? 40? 50s?

Physical appearance - remember Macbeth is a warrior, a victorious

soldier, so he certainly can't look weedy. How feminine would you

like Lady Macbeth to be? Is she sexy? "Fiend-like"? Frightening?

Height

Compatibility - the Macbeths are a married couple and each should

be cast with the other in mind. You are, in a sense, casting a pair

rather than just two individuals.

2. Either:
draw up a list of suitable suggestions of actors from film, TV or

theatre

Or:
cut out photographs of possible choices from magazines and paste

them next to your character breakdowns.

3. Discuss your choices and suggestions with the rest of the class.

gallery
Look at these photographs of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth from 6 previous productions at the RSC. Do they match your idea of the Macbeths?


			Read the following descriptions of Macbeth and his wife: The Macbeths are an impatient, power hungry couple. Already of a high standing at Court they want more and they want it now. Macbeth - is an active soldier and a very good one too. He is seduced easily by the idea of the more glittering future that the Witches suggest he will achieve. He is not the true politician of the pair and could be seen to be manipulated by Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth - certainly has a great deal of power over Macbeth. Is it love, lust or even fear? She is ambitious for herself as well as for her husband. She is very tactical and intelligent. She is the power behind the project. Together they make a very dangerous pair for any one in their way! 1. Imagine you are a casting director. Casting directors have to find a range of suitable actors for the director to meet and audition for parts in a play. It might help you to write a casting breakdown for the two characters which details some of the qualities you are looking for. Using the text as your evidence, write your own description of a) Macbeth and b) Lady Macbeth. You might like to think about: Age - are the Macbeths in their 20s? 30s? 40? 50s? Physical appearance - remember Macbeth is a warrior, a victorious soldier, so he certainly can't look weedy. How feminine would you like Lady Macbeth to be? Is she sexy? "Fiend-like"? Frightening? Height Compatibility - the Macbeths are a married couple and each should be cast with the other in mind. You are, in a sense, casting a pair rather than just two individuals. 2. Either: draw up a list of suitable suggestions of actors from film, TV or theatre Or: cut out photographs of possible choices from magazines and paste them next to your character breakdowns. 3. Discuss your choices and suggestions with the rest of the class. Look at these photographs of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth from 6 previous productions at the RSC. Do they match your idea of the Macbeths?