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Create and perform with Just Macbeth!
Watch, create and perform with the NSW Public Schools Drama Company
Student resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 6 to 9 drama and English
Welcome to Just Macbeth! by Andy Griffiths
Welcome to Just Macbeth! by Andy Griffiths
Produced by The Arts Unit, NSW Department of Education, in association with Bell Shakespeare and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Suggestions on how to use this resource
Suggestions on how to use this resource
The following suggestions include examples of activities you could explore with your drama or English students who are studying this drama text:
view a recorded live performance
analyse role and character through close study of the text
explore the transformation of Shakespeare into a different context
experiment with Shakespearean language
discuss costume, set, sound and lighting within the production
explore various scenario- or written-based exercises with students.
Creating and performing
Creating and performing
'... a very contemporary interpretation ...' – Ms Livingstone
In the opening sequence of Just Macbeth! we see 2 students dressed as robots, recreating the famous witches scene with their own interpretation. Ms Livingston then sets this same task for Andy, Danny and Lisa.
Warm-up
Warm-up
Walking like witches – group task
Walk around a clear space as yourself at a normal pace – the addition of music to this task is recommended.
Start to slow down the way you walk and move as though you are one of the 4 elements: water, fire, earth or air.
If you can recognise another student who is performing the same element as you, find them and walk towards or near them.
Group yourself with similar elements and circle each other as though the element gets stronger in the presence of other similar elements.
Create a climactic moment with your element groups: a blazing fire, a whirling tornado, a shuddering earthquake or raging waters.
Finally, bring your moment gradually all the way to stillness.
Students perform the witches scene, photo: Anna Warr
The witches in Just Macbeth!, photo: Anna Warr
Task (drama and English)
Task (drama and English)
Create your own interpretation of the witches scene.
Before you begin, think about the following aspects of the scene that you could alter:
setting
character types
props (cauldron, ingredients).
Use the following text from the witches scene (act 1, scene 1) to help create your scene.
Perform your interpretation for your class or record it. This could also be completed remotely via video conferencing.
Macbeth by Shakespeare, act 1, scene 1
Macbeth by Shakespeare, act 1, scene 1
First witch: When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second witch: When the hurly burly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
Third witch: That will be ere the set of sun.
First witch: Where the place?
Second witch: Upon the heath.
Third witch: There to meet with Macbeth.
Both: Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Performing solo
Performing solo
Solilo-what?
During the ‘cauldron/kitchen’ scene, Danny and Andy both have soliloquy moments. Danny and Lisa even explain what a soliloquy is!
So, what is a soliloquy?
A soliloquy is a character speaking their thoughts aloud, shared only with the audience; no other character onstage can hear. In a soliloquy, a character may be speaking to themselves or directly to the audience.
By comparison, a monologue is usually spoken directly to another character.
Andy's soliloquy
Andy's soliloquy
Watch the following video of Andy's soliloquy.
Use your logbook to answer the following questions:
How is timing used to create humour?
How are lighting and sound used to indicate the soliloquy moments, and what effect does this have on the audience?
Andy delivers his soliloquy during the cauldron/kitchen scene, photo: Anna Warr
Andy's soliloquy
Duration: 02:05
Drama task
Drama task
The following 2 extracts from Just Macbeth! by Andy Griffiths were used as part of the auditioning process to be accepted into the Drama Company.
Use the extract/s to practice your soliloquy and audition skills. You might like to record yourself performing.
Soliloquy 1 – Andy
To murder King Duncan or not to murder King Duncan … that is the question. One thing’s for sure: If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly. But how can it even be done at all? He’s here in double trust! First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself! (addressing audience) What would you do? If you had a guest staying at your house and somebody knocked on your door and called out, ‘Let me in: I’ve come to murder your guest!’ Would you open the door or keep it shut? (waits for response from audience) Of course, you’d keep it shut! If you were a GOOD host, anyway! And besides all that, King Duncan seems like a pretty good bloke! I haven’t got one good reason to murder him. We will proceed no further in this business.
Soliloquy 2 – Mrs Livingstone
Boring? Boring?? Shakespeare boring? Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights of all time! There was nothing he didn’t and couldn’t write about. Power! Revenge! Greed! Hate! Jealousy! Love! Anger! Deceit! Betrayal! Sleep!
Whether you’re 12 or in your early thirties, Shakespeare helps us to recognise and understand what it is to be human. From the great and heroic to the dastardly and despicable. From acts of love and heroism to acts of unspeakable cruelty. He makes us realise things about ourselves of which we may not have been aware. But you’ll never discover that, or anything else, with your head on the desk and your eyes closed.
No doubt you’ll experience for yourself tomorrow when you Danny. And you Andy. And you Lisa present your version of the witches’ scene. But be warned! On this point you should be clear: We are dealing with powerful magic here!
See the 'Top tips for auditioning' page for extra details on how best to approach an audition.
Andy delivers his soliloquy about King Duncan, photo: Anna Warr
Ms Livingstone delivers her soliloquy, photo: Anna Warr
English task
English task
Write a short monologue where you are trying to convince someone to do something they don’t want to.
Some examples might be:
talk your sibling into doing your homework for you
convince your parents to take you to Disneyland
persuade your teacher not to issue any homework for 2 weeks
sway someone’s opinion into also loving your favourite band/musician.
Describe and create
Describe and create
'But murdering Duncan, that would be, well, murder!' – Andy
Towards the end of the play, Macbeth is taken over by his ambition and plots to kill … everyone! He then invents the pulverising machine which we see in a shadow-theatre style.
Task – English/drama
Task – English/drama
Watch the following video of the pulverising machine.
Complete the following task in your logbook.
Describe, using evocative language, how the actors create the pulverising machine in this performance of Just Macbeth!
The pulverising machine portrayed through shadow theatre, photo: Anna Warr
Pulverising machine
Duration: 01:10
Task – drama
Task – drama
Create your own pulverising mashing machine.
Select one person from your group to stand up and make the first part of the machine with their body. They should focus on a sound and an action that can be easily repeated.
The next person then adds on to the machine, anywhere they like. Try to think about levels, proxemics and direction. Are the parts linked yet?
Continue until everyone in your group is part of the machine.
Extension:
As a group, show us what the machine looks like in slow motion or double/triple speed.
What happens when one part of the machine breaks down?
Give your machine an emotion to portray: bloodthirsty, reluctant, joyous, revengeful.
Danny seated on stage, photo: Anna Warr
Task – English
Task – English
Write a diary entry where you have done something wrong, and you’re trying to cover it up.
Some example scenarios:
You have broken something important to your parents.
You have not completed an assessment task and your teacher knows.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Just Macbeth!, © Andy Griffiths, 2009, reproduced and communicated with permission.
Macbeth, act 1, scene 1 by Shakespeare is in the public domain.
Just Macbeth! king's head and blood splash graphics, design Lliam Amor, © Lliam Amour, 2022, reproduced and communicated with permission.
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