Best version of Macbeth to watch for GCSE

Hope pp don’t mind me resurrecting this thread, would you say the versions of Macbeth mentioned still stand as the best to watch? Or has anything new come out that anyone thinks is a good screen version to watch?

I was going to go for the Denzel Washington version according to teacher recommendations on a Reddit thread.

Sadly I can’t take dd 15 to the theatre at the moment as I’m recovering from an op, so watching from the sofa will have to do at the moment!

Oh Popcorn @JustHereWithMyPopcorn 😢

Please be careful with the versions you watch- the trouble is directors' interpretations! Some real arty nightmares.
Consider focussing on the context- more history. The Devine Rights of Kings is very important. James (King at the time) believed in this - well he would- at a time when the power of the monarchy was being eroded by Parliament.
Macbeth kills the King to satisfy his lust for power. The rest of the play is about the consequences of killing him for the Macbeth's.

@Oblomov24 I wish I’d known you were trying for tickets last week. I had two ticket for the Ralph Fiennes performance and couldn’t go. Was desperately trying to sell them but no one wanted to trek to east London on a Thursday night. They were non refundable so I lost out. They were £70 each. 😫

Oh I see pp posted this link, apologies.

Yes, my sister had a graphic novel version with all the original text:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Macbeth-Graphic-Novel-Original-Unabridged/dp/1906332037/ref=sr_1_1?crid=71XTZBBXVAR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8aZPoU4isNKIAU1uJNftsSqR7I4qqRAPWvoU-_9chhk4oR5f_Ps_KLLFGIJ7SIwzVW2ubfjoYTBcgWesTK1y7COl6LU7jfMKagxcK2lBAMwE_XrCEHpwNacKEby4nh4UsG6jogghUKMWqB4dW4E_V-_xn08XWtLDTuFGz9MREUpyTiFrWDz5lTKYIfaHteVgb1wxpJuqVwj53FOc-4cSsY7VU84XaKgkTPoiKSuNnbI.zHYAoaHqPHCEszY7wIXojKfq8u6fKFLk23M-EfhahNQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=macbeth+graphic+novel&qid=1709147742&sprefix=Macbeth+graph%2Caps%2C357&sr=8-1

Oh thank you Fluffy. I actually have that booked already! I have Macbeth and Jekyll & Hyde both booked at Wimbledon in April. It is actually that very company that you recommended that is performing it! So thanks.

@Oblomov24

www.dickenstheatrecompany.co.uk/aboutrevisionontour

So here's my tale :

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky

Ds2 is doing 'Macbeth' and 'An Inspector calls'. I get an email from school that they have limited number of tickets for London Macbeth, starring Ralph Fiennes. Thinking he wouldn't get tickets I checked out prices, asked a couple of other mums, told ds2 to ask his closest friends. So angry with myself I left it so late, the tickets get sold out, not £30, not £85, some £108, some £260+.

I've got 6 tabs open. I'm looking at all places that have Macbeth. David Tennent is no longer doing it. My friend says her dd saw it in Guildford last week but that's now finished. Bugger. I'm looking at Fiennes Macbeth in London, Macbeth in Guildford expired, Brighton, Farnham and finally found one in Wimbledon so booked that for £22.50 each. Result.

I also had inspector calls 3 screens open, looking for that aswell. finally found one in London that I'll book tonight.

And I'm buzzing around, flitting between tabs, trying to do too many things .... accidentally had 'the importance of being earnest' open. And then accidentally booked it by accident, what I thought I was booking 'An inspector calls'. What a twat. Non refundable. So decide to go with 2 friends. Do you think they'll notice that I booked 2 tickets for 2 x under 16's, and 1 adult? Angry? Because I've spent £77 by accident!

I did study Inspector Calls myself at school and love it. "A handbag"? But I am so cross I accidentally booked them.

You can all laugh!

Anyone else done anything as stupid? What an idiot I am!

These kids these days. So entitled. I never went to see any plays when I was at school. It's not me sitting GCSE English you know! I'd rather NOT go and sit and watch Macbeth you know. I'm just trying to chivvy an uninterested ds2 along!

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky
Thank you Fluffy. Do you have a link for the Revision Tour.

I'm in Surrey. I told all my friends about the bodge I made this week re bookings: (I'll re/post it in a minute just for your entertainment).

I've now found Macbeth in Wimbledon for £22.50 booked. And An Inspector Calls in London for £40.

But my ds2 is not like ds1. He's not keen and needs chivvying along, so the 'explains every scene in plain English appealed to me.

These kids, these days are so entitled they have no idea how lucky they are . I never had any internet, never went to see any plays when I was at school!!

@Oblomov24 I don't know where you are but my dd went to see both Macbeth and an inspector calls quite locally,

I don't know if it's this year or next year your dc are going the exams but inspector calls is touring all over the place end of this year.

There is also a revision on tour Macbeth - touring until April although many of the dates have been and gone now. Assume it will be back next year again.

Watching with interest. I've got ds2 doing Macbeth and An Inspector Calls. I missed out on the London Macbeth with Ralph Fiennes because of the disgusting cost of £260 tickets, my own fault for leaving the booking so late.
So I've found cheaper shows/plays for both versions.
A nice Mn'er suggested I look for a GCSE revision show where they come on and explain the scene in plain English, which may suit an uninterested ds2, because let's be honest out of all the Shakespeare choices it is a bit dry, and not scintillating! So I'm on yet look out for one of those!

The Cheggers/Polanski one is passably good, though was showing its age even when I saw it at school c 30 yrs ago.

I saw a great production with Sean Bean and Julian glover one the west end. I thought it was around 10 years ago but looking on the web it seams that it was 2002. Oh dear.

You can watch the National Theatre Live version with Kenneth Branagh via Prime Video

The Patrick Stewart one has excellent witches and a brilliant Lady Macbeth.

I was lucky enough to see this production at the theatre! Kate Fleetwood is magnificent. Would highly recommend.

Here's the graphic full text:

Macbeth

As a tutor, I always suggest the Polanski.
And see it live if possible.

If the student is struggling, the comic-strip version is fabulous and has the full text.

I think Edward Bennett’s Macduff in the Eccleston version was superb, especially the part where he hears his family has been slaughtered. I’ve never seen that moment played as well. In the text it’s all pauses and gaps but it’s electrifying on stage.

She might enjoy Upstart Crow - Series 1, Episode 5 was based on Macbeth. Sometimes having a laugh at it can help if she’s not a natural English scholar.

It’s also worth drawing her attention to the fact that Shakespearean English is a much simpler form of English without all the modern is-ing and am-ing grammatical structures that evolved later ( eg I go- not I am going). When you start with a mind set that it’s hard to understand it’s like a self fulfilling prophecy (no pun intended).

Denzel version disappointing, slow, boring, actors too old. I like the Fassbender one, love the BBC modern Patrick Stewart version if u can get hold of it, also like a Jason Connery one and a channel 4 based in Bosnia on motorbikes! Great digital theatre version with David Morrissey too. Think I saw a great Kenneth Branagh theatre version too. Polanski one commonly thought of as the best traditional version. Watch a couple!

Have you seen that The Globe are running a production specially designed for teens to support learning - so should be accurate and sensible - over the Easter holidays? £5 tickets for groundlings. Wear your big coat!

I’ve seen many of the Macbeth productions , I studied it and so did both DC ( different schools) . Lucky enough to have seen the Eccleston version at Barbican just before Covid struck ( witches were so creepy but I thought Lady M bit less convincing ) but true to script . Also the previously mentioned Trevor Nunn production with Ian McKelkern & Judy Dench - rather old now ( I saw it for my O levels ) but still marvellous. My personal favourite was the Sean Bean stage version - it was electrifying but it had been “modernised” .

We watched the Judi Dench one at school too

Would Lamb's tales from Shakespeare help? It's short stories, 1 for each play, giving an outline.