The Man That Would Be Shakespeare Born April 23 rd, 1564 Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” Gave him a chance to write a play Henry IV, Pt. 1- It stunk but they gave him another shot

Many playwrights with nowhere to “play” Barn turned into theatre (Yeah!) Puritans burn it down (Evil theatre! Boo!) Globe built! (Yeah!) Globe burns (sniff, darn cannon!) Globe rebuilt! (Yeah!) Globe burns (Dang that Fire of London!) Reconstructed in the 1990’s

o Aristocrats o The Queen/King o The Groundlings!

When in a play... Only men were permitted to perform Boys or effeminate men were used to play the women Costumes were often the company’s most valuable asset Costumes were made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers

The Cost of a Show 1 shilling to stand 2 shillings to sit in the balcony 1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income Broadway Today: –$85 Orchestra –$60 Balcony –10% of a teacher’s weekly salary

Set in Scotland Written for King James I (formerly of Scotland, now England) following the death of Queen Elizabeth Theme influence - James was interested in witchcraft and Scotland.

Yes! King Duncan was a real king of Scotland who was killed in battle by Macbeth Macbeth succeeded Duncan in 11th century Scotland Shakespeare researched The Chronicles of Holinshed, a historian Banquo was an ancestor of King James I

King Duncan of Scotland –Murdered by cousin Macbeth –Honest and good Malcolm & Donalbain –Sons of the King –Malcolm is the eldest son Macbeth –Duncan’s most courageous general –Ambition to become king corrupts him causing him to murder Duncan

Banquo –General and Macbeth’s best friend –Suspects Macbeth in Duncan’s murder –An actual ancestor of King James I Lady Macbeth –As ambitious as her husband –A dark force behind his evil deeds Macduff –Scottish general, suspects Macbeth of murdering the king –Macbeth has his family murdered –Swears vengeance

The Scottish Play It is believed to be bad luck to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre Legend has it you will lose all your friends involved in the production--horribly MORE ON THAT LATER...

So what really happens? Good guy goes bad Guy wants power Married to a pushy control freak She wants power Kills people- LOTS of people Gets power Gets paranoid (a.k.a. goes crazy) Ticks off a lot of people Want more power! Kill! Kill! Gets what’s coming to him in the end