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EXAMPLES OF ACTIVE APPROACHES

Macbeth
Key Stage 2 and 3
RSC Education

The whole group in a circle read Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3 (edited, see below).

• They read the text around the class, one person reading punctuation mark to punctuation mark, then the next person takes over until the next punctuation mark, and so on.
• The group are then encouraged to discuss the interpretive possibilities for the witches. For example are they bag ladies? Or do they have  multiple personalities? Or could they be aspects of the environment?  Or are they figments of Macbeth's imagination?
• The groups are then given various physical approaches (or they devise these themselves). For example:
  • The witches are one being, interlocked in some way.
  • The witches are sirens and confront Macbeth.
  • The witches are aspects of the heath - stones or trees, which come to life in the Macbeth encounter and then return to their natural state.

The class is then divided into five small groups of players.

• Each group is allocated a section of the scene (see below).
• Groups focus on a clear interpretive choice for the witches and physically explore this.
• Groups are given a list of questions (see below) about their section which they must consider.
• They are given the information that the Thane of Cawdor and King Duncan are alive and well.
• They must then create a performance of that section to share with the rest of the class.
• The groups create a circle in the order that the extracts appear in the scene. The whole scene is then played in order around the circle.
• Then discuss the interpretive choices: what worked well?

Copy and paste the text below into a plain new document for use with your group.

Macbeth Act I Scene 3 (edited)

Section 1

Thunder.  Enter the three Witches.

FIRST WITCH           Where hast thou been, sister?

SECOND WITCH       Killing swine.

THIRD WITCH           Sister, where thou?
                               A drum, A drum:
                               Macbeth doth come.

ALL                          Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,
                               And thrice again, to make up nine.
                               Peace, the charm's wound up.

Section 2

MACBETH                  So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

BANQUO                   How far is't called to Forres?  - What are these,
                                That look not like th'inhabitants oth'earth,
                                And yet are on't?

MACBETH                  Speak if you can: what are you?

Section 3

FIRST WITCH            All hail, Macbeth: hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!

SECOND WITCH        All hail, Macbeth: hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!

THIRD WITCH           All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!

Section 4

BANQUO                   Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
                               Your favours nor your hate.

FIRST WITCH            Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

SECOND WITCH        Not so happy, yet much happier.

THIRD WITCH           Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.

FIRST WITCH            Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!

Section 5

FIRST WITCH            Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!

The Sisters vanish

MACBETH                 Your children shall be kings.

BANQUO                   You shall be king.

Questions for Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 3

Section 1
How do the witches appear in the space?
What kind of relationship do they have with one another?
Why are they speaking the spell - for what purpose? 
What do they want to achieve in meeting up with Macbeth?

Section Two
What kind of relationship do Macbeth and Banquo have?
How are they feeling at this point – e.g. tired, exhilarated, hungry?
How are they traveling?
What exactly are they doing when they enter – e.g. eating a sandwich, putting on a raincoat, examining a map?
What do the witches do to get their attention?

Section Three
What are the witches trying to achieve in giving Macbeth his titles?  Are they mocking him or honouring him or tempting him or something else?
How do they bestow the titles on Macbeth?  Do they kneel or whisper in his ear or run up and give him something and run off again or something else?
How does Macbeth respond to receiving each of the titles?
How does Banquo respond?

Section Four
What does Banquo hope for in asking the witches what his future holds?
How do the witches present their news to Banquo?
How does Banquo respond?  What does he do?
How does Macbeth respond?  Does he do anything?

Section Five
How do the witches vanish?
What is Macbeth thinking when he says to Banquo, "Your children shall be kings"?
What is Banquo thinking when he says to Macbeth, "You shall be king" ?

 

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