This film screened 30th June 2016.

As the first film Roman Polanski directed following the horrific murder of Sharon Tate, his pregnant wife, at the hands of the Manson Family, it is not surprising that his treatment of Macbeth is particularly dark and brutal. It is also powerful and undeniably cinematic, full of sound and fury, all of which is significant in one of the most singular of Shakespeare adaptations.

(Notes by Kevin Coyne.)

PANEL DISCUSSION

In deciding to adapt a Shakespeare play for either screen or stage, one of the first decisions concerns the use of language – to use or not to use the original dialogue – and the context. Our panel discussion will focus on Shakespeare adaptations for both stage and screen, and the panellists will include: theatre director Selina Cartmell; Abbey Theatre Education Manager, Phil Kingston; actress Karen Ardiff; author and director Gerard Stembridge and lecturer Dr. Jane Grogan.

This film is screening as part of our Shakespeare Lives season June 8th – 30th.