As you look through the costume images and photographs from past productions of Macbeth, think about:

• How they are shown as different from the other characters. In Dominic Cooke’s 2004 production, the witches are dressed in simple black clothing and are illuminated by bright light from underneath. How does this play with the imagery of dark and light in the play? Why do you think they hold the same piece of rope? What could this symbolise?
• What their appearance reveals about the supernatural in the play. In Michael Boyd’s 2011 production, the witches are children and are flown on to the stage as hanging corpses. What does this decision do to the telling of the story? How does this change the audience's view of the supernatural?
• How the magic of the witches works. What does it look like when they cast a spell or make something appear? How do they interact with each other and why?

Where would you choose to set a production of Macbeth and what choices would you make to help show what the Witches are like?

As you look through the photographs from past productions of Macbeth, think about:

• How the scene makes you feel. In Dominic Cooke’s 2004 production, you can see a picture of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in formal evening wear with lots of dark blood on Macbeth's hands. How does this contrast make the scene shocking?
• How the productions have approached this moment differently and how the impact differs. In Michael Boyd’s 2011 production, the design incorporates even more blood on white costumes. What story does this tell about the Macbeths’ deed and their guilt?
• How Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel about their actions and how prepared they were to commit the deed. In Trevor Nunn’s 1976 production, there is very little blood, but the weapons are very visible. The actors are wearing dark clothes which mean the blood will not be very obvious. How does this alter the scene? How prepared do you think they were in this production and how does that compare to the other versions?

What choices could you make to tell the story of how terrible it is for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to kill the king?

As you look through the photographs from past productions of Macbeth, think about:

• What kind of world the play is set in. Looking specifically at the images of the court and monarchy, what similarities can you see? The setting in each of the banquet scenes and in the 1967 production are all different, but how are the monarchy represented in each? What connects these worlds?
• Consider what colours appear. Are particular colours associated with specific characters or moments?
• Any big changes to how you have imagined the play. For example, in Michael Boyd’s 2011 production, he chose children to play the witches, which explores the themes of violence and innocence. What changes to the world could you make to draw out different themes?
• In the text, Scotland is described as diseased and sick under Macbeth’s rule. Could you show this visually in some way? Are there any examples in these images which are particularly successful in showing how Scotland has become under Macbeth's rule?

Where would you choose to set a production of Macbeth? How could you visually show an audience when and where this production was set?

As you look through the photographs from past productions of Macbeth, think about:

• How you can tell that Banquo is a ghost and what his relationship to Macbeth is. In the 2004 production, you can see Banquo’s ghost is played by an actor, illuminated with a red light. He is sat behind Macbeth. What does this tell you about what Macbeth is seeing?
• What the scene would be like if Banquo was invisible to the audience as well as thanes at the banquet. Do you think it would be more or less terrifying? What would this do to the meaning of the scene? How would it change our reaction to Macbeth?
• In the text, Banquo’s death is the only death to happen onstage. Would you keep it this way, or would you choose to show other deaths? In Polly Findlay’s 2018 production, the other deaths happen offstage but can be seen by the audience in a tally that is chalked up on the wall at the side of the stage. What effect do you think it has when the audience cannot see the deaths but are aware they are happening?

How would you choose to portray Banquo’s ghost in a production? How could your visual choices make this moment more terrifying for Macbeth?