J. William Davis - THEATRICS

William Shakespeare

The RSC Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon

Director: Jonathan Munby

By setting Macbeth in the Middle East the position of women in society is explored. Today, after years of legislation for equal opportunities, a meritocratic society may still be an ideal; our own attitudes to modern, intelligent woman in politics may not be as enlightened as we think they are.

Lady Macbeth and her husband bring a more liberal Western sway to the orthodox 'Scotland' of Duncan's reign. Clothing moves from traditional burkhas to more revealing wear when the Macbeths seize power.

Arabic patterned screens are set within timbre columns which duplicate those existing in the Swan. The stage is covered in sand at the start. It is cleared by the Macbeths then, as Malcolm re-establishes the status quo, becomes covered again completing the cycle of the play . At various times TV screens, mounted on the balconies, broadcast CNN and Aljazeera news reports and also images of the ghosts.

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Costume
sketches

Arabic
patterns

Macbeth +
Lady Macbeth

Opening-
woman praying

Post
murder

Duncan
arrives

Technical
drawings
of chair

Witches
dancing

The
banquet

Murder
discovered

Technical drawing of Eames wire chair used in scenes set in Macbeth's home.

CAD drawing-ground plan illustrating the new oval stage, with Arabic patterning and central trap, and the screen wall which continues the Swan Theatre's colonnade around the front of the stage.

Act IV Scene 1-The Cauldron-the three witches dance around a falling column of sand; the screens are open exposing a bare framework and blackness beyond.

Act IV Scene 1-The Banquet-pillows are scattered on the floor as guests arrive for the feast.

Act II Scene 3-Pandemonium erupts upon the discovery of Duncan's murder. The screens are slammed open, houseguests run about as candles and TVs flicker.

Opening-Arab screens separate the praying women, wearing burkhas, and children from the men. The stage is covered in sand. TVs show night vision news coverage form the war zones.

Act II Scene 3-Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Banquo, Fleance, Malcolm, Donalbain, Ross, the Gentlewoman and the Porter enter in states of undress after Duncan's murder is revealed.

Act I Scene 6-King Duncan and his sons Malcolm and Donalbain, Banquo with his son Fleance, and Macduff with Lady Macduff and their three children arrive to visit the Macbeth's home.

Preliminary sketches establishing the palette and mood for the clothing.

A colour scheme and Arabic pattern was developed for each family. The red triangular star pattern is for Macbeth; the green circular pattern is for Duncan, Malcolm and Donalbain.

Macbeth

CAD drawing
of Plan