MACBETH (COM AUDIO CD)

The audio CD with this edition of Macbeth contains a series of unique recordings to illustrate how different actors place their own interpretation on the play. Hear Orson Welles in a 1940s recording reciting Macbeth’s famous soliloquy ‘Tomorrow, andtomorrow, and tomorrow’. Compare that to a contemporary version by Stephen Dillane from 1998. There are also superb performances from Sir Alec Guinness, Simon Russell Beale, Harriet Walter, Fiona Shaw and David Tennant.

The text is illustrated throughout with photographs from notable productions to bring the play to life in the classroom. There are scenes from a range of productions including Trevor Nunn’s 1976 RSC production with Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench, Roman Polanski’s 1971 film and Michael Kahn’s 2004-5 production at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. The book also takes you behind the scenes with reproductions of set drawings, costume designs and scene edits, including images from the 1937-38 production at the Old Vic starring Laurence Olivier and Judith Anderson.

As well as the playtext, there are articles covering a range of topics including ‘In Production: Macbeth through the Years’ by William Proctor Williams, ‘Macbeth in Popular Culture’ by Douglas Lanier, ‘AVoice Coach’s Perspective on Speaking Shakespeare’ by Andrew Wade and ‘In the Age of Shakespeare’ by Thomas Garvey.