The story of "The Memorable Arrest"

• runaway man, imposter takes his place, discovered to be a lie

• wife accepted the imposter because it allowed her to reestablish herself in her society

• understanding status, role, etc. other people's reactions to you are what establish status

Mistaken identity as a central driving force

• thinking about intentional identity stealing as well as accidental adoption of another's identity

• if identity is switched and the society accepts and assigns you the alternate identity, you then are able to become that person

  • Mad person vs. mad world

First performance

• clear early performance history

• 28th December 1594- Shakespeare is a poet (newly known to society as a writer, post-pandemic fame), theatre is coming alive again after the plague shut theatre down

• Shakespeare's company is hired for after dinner entertainment for a Christmas event

• A Comedy of Errors is performed

  • student fight breaks out during performance, chaos ensues

• night is referred to going forward as "the night of errors"

• young elite men are often allowed chaos with the understanding that they will one day be the ones to enforce order as those in power

theme of redemption and restoration

• can you be redeemed? can order be restored?

benefits to teaching adaptations before 

Performance reflection of The Globe's Midsummer production

• One thing from the play that stuck out and gave you a new perspective?

  • Go around to each group and receive feedback. Use that time to engage with students as they share, allow feedback from other groups.

  • How can we prompt students to have strong opinions and passionate observations that would mirror the kinds of observations we experienced in this room?

    • connecting to "prepping students for performance"-- would assigning focal points work to help students feel something

Activating performance as a tool for teaching

History as context

• Shakespeare uses his own current and distant history to shape his plays, including Macbeth

• written in the early 1600s

  • transitional period

    • regime change

    • religious crack-down

    • first taste of mass terrorism

    • a variety of riots

    • queen is very old, dies in 1603

      • no heir

      • political factions are forming and strengthening

        • Succeeded King James

    • King James of Scotland becomes the king with little to no bloodshed

      • boosts cultural scene

        • brings theatre a boost

        • gives theatre leaders power

      • brings family along (wife and three children)

      • let down the Catholics in the country, as James does not repeal the laws that were oppressing them

        • terrorist attack planned and failed- 1605

          • goal was to invite a Spanish invasion

      • Goes from very popular to very unpopular in a very short period of time

  • Shakespeare is also rising sharply to fame, contrasting the world around him

    • 1580s--> is Shakespeare's career

    • Shakespeare, as a result of his new status, is in the middle of the fall out of the failed revolution in 1605

• historical context, especially when they play-write is involved in politics, is important to understand.

Macbeth

• written in 1606 English, set in 11th century Scotland

• he is writing about real people in history and taking liberties, making it a drama

  • real people paired with witches and the supernatural

• The Crown in Scotland

  • The origins of Scotland, Wales, and England have all, at this point, been traced back to the same mythical figure of Brutus of Troy, who landed with his sons. His sons had a falling out and divided up the land into three countries

  • Duncan reigned 1034-1040

  • Macbeth reigned 1040-1057

  • Lulach reigned 1057-1058

  • Malcolm reigned 1058-1093

  • ...

  • James VI/I 1567-1625

• History from Shakespeare given by Holinshed

• Duncan 

  • kindly ineffectual ruler

  • subject to rebellions because he's soft on rule-breakers

  • dependent on others

  • Macbeth leads fight against the invasion of the Norwegians 

  • dies in battle 

    • Holinshed says he was murdered, but not the way Shakespeare portrays

      • Shakespeare used the story of the slaughter of Duff by Donwald who was encouraged by his wife to kill the king to get inspiration for the murder

        • thinking about the retelling of history as a dramatic choice, why were these choices made?

• Macbeth

  • witches are mentioned in history book

  • nature of Macbeth's rule from Holinshed

    • good and effective king

      • Holinshed notes that it was disingenuous

    • supports people, tough on crime

    • antithesis of Duncan

    • deeply effected by the prophecy and plans Banquo's death

  • MacDuff does kill Macbeth and his family

  • Shakespeare's portrayal of Macbeth

    • transfers some of the characteristics of Duncan to Macbeth

    • expands the role of Lady Macbeth

    • embraces the witches to drive the plot

  • Banquo, Thane of Lochaber

    • He was never a real figure, but Shakespeare likely doesn't know this

      • the origin point for the ruling house of Stuart (stewart?)

        • origin of King James's line

      • Play is set as a origin myth for the new King of England, as it is showing that he is legitimate

        • King also asserts that he is the king of Great Britain, rather than just of England

        • this is not reality, he is kings of two places at once

          • this continues with the line of succession, his son also becomes the king of two places

• Macbeth plays into the fear of terrorism and the chaos of overthrowing the crown