Curtain Raisers The Handlebards present Macbeth

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Details

Ticket Price:	₹ 300
Genre:	Comedy
Language:	English
Duration:	80 minutes, No Interval
Playwright:	William Shakespeare
Director:	James Farrell
Cast:	Callum Brodie, Tom Dixon, Paul Moss, Calum Hughes-McIntosh
Presented By:	The HandleBards

The HandleBards are a travelling theatre company, who present Shakespeare’s works in a fast paced, highly visual, textually rigorous manner. After their highly successful 3-month bike tour of Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors, the HandleBards are now in Bangalore with Macbeth at Jagriti Curtain Raisers. On four bikes they travel the length and breadth of the UK, carrying all the set, props and costumes they require to perform in indoor and outdoor venues across the world.
                In Scotland, Macbeth, a general in King Duncan’s army, and his fellow soldier, Banquo, are returning from a successful battle. On a barren heath, three witches appear and greet Macbeth as “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor” and “King hereafter”. They also prophesy that the future heirs of the throne will be descended not from Macbeth, but from Banquo. The witches disappear, and a messenger from the King arrives announcing that Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor, thus fulfilling the first part of the prophecy. King Duncan declares that he is nominating his son, Malcolm, as heir, and announces that he will spend the night at the Macbeths’ castle.

Alone, Lady Macbeth reads her husband’s letter describing the witches’ revelations. She fears that Macbeth lacks the courage to commit murder and seize the crown, but she convinces him that the deed must be done. That night, Macbeth stabs the sleeping Duncan, and two guards are framed for the crime. Macbeth is appointed King, but with the witches’ prophecy in mind, he arranges for the murders of Banquo and his son, Fleance. Although Banquo is killed, the hired assassin does not succeed in killing Fleance. Banquo’s ghost appears at a banquet, and Macbeth is driven mad by the deeds he has committed.

Macbeth returns to the Heath to find the three witches, who deliver a further prophecy – that Macbeth must be fearful of Macduff (the Thane of Fife), but that he shall not be killed by a man born of woman, nor until Birnam Wood comes to his castle at Dunsinane.

When Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled the country to join with Malcolm, he orders Macduff’s wife and children to be put to death. Haunted by the sins she has committed, Lady Macbeth’s conscience now begins to torture her and she imagines that she can see her hands covered with blood. She commits suicide. Malcolm and Macduff advance an army to challenge Macbeth, using branches from Birnam Wood to mask their advance. Macbeth is strengthening his own army when news reaches him that Lady Macbeth has died. He goes into battle and kills many, until he comes face to face with Macduff. Macduff reveals that he was born prematurely, fulfilling the prophecy that Macbeth would not be killed by one born of woman. Macduff beheads Macbeth, and Malcolm is crowned king