Each production is a unique interpretation of a Shakespeare play. Prompt books from RSC archives at the Shakespeare Centre Library can help us understand how directors staged scenes in previous productions of Macbeth.

A prompt book tells us what happens during a show. It often contains detailed information about blocking (who moves where, on which line in a scene) and are marked up with cues, for example:

Sound cues (SQ)

Lighting cues (LX)

Music cues (MQ)

Cues for the fly men to bring in scenery

During a performance, the Deputy Stage Manager sits in the Prompt Side (Stage Left) wings and gives the cues.

From one prompt book [Macbeth, RSC 1986/7], we learn that the Bloody Captain and a child were on stage at the top of the play with the 3 witches. The witches are described as “scavengers”, robbing corpses on the field of battle. The notes read:

Witch 3 (W3) finds coat by pole (Upstage Right) and puts it on.

Witch 2 (W2) notices the Bloody Captain and Witch 1 goes towards
him.

Witch 1 (W1) pushes W3 away.

W1 pulls coat off child and pulls him to a standing position.

Drums start.

On “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”, W1 gets bell out of bag, rings it and
gives it to the child.

On “Hover”, W3 starts to take child off Stage Right side of platform.
Lifts him up on edge.

On “filthy air”, Music Cue whilst Witch waving. W3 exits through Door
1 [there were 8 doors in the set]. Entrance of soldiers. General noise
and confusion. Witches spit and run Upstage and hide Upstage Left in
the darkness.


The following descriptions detail what happens in Act 4 scene 1 when Macbeth returns to the witches and apparitions appear. They are from 3 RSC productions:

Aldwych Theatre, 1975, directed by Trevor Nunn

Barbican Theatre, 1986, directed by Adrian Noble

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, 1993, directed by Adrian Noble

They describe what happens in Act 4 scene 1 lines 58-76.

FIRST WITCH Speak.

SECOND WITCH Demand.

THIRD WITCH We'll answer.

FIRST WITCH Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, Or from our masters?

MACBETH Call 'em; let me see 'em.

FIRST WITCH Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten
From the murderer's gibbet throw.
Into the flame.

ALL Come, high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show! Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head

MACBETH Tell me, thou unknown power,

FIRST WITCH He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

FIRST APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;
Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough. Descends

MACBETH Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;
Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one word more -

FIRST WITCH He will not be commanded: here's another,
More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition: A bloody Child

SECOND APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!