Best version of Macbeth to watch for GCSE

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I've said I'll sit down with DD over Easter and watch Macbeth with her. It's one of her GCSE texts and she's struggling with it. The school seems to teach it it a very disjointed way and we've come to the conclusion she's not got proper understanding of how it all fits. However there are a lot of different film versions available. Any recommendations on one that will best help a reluctant GCSE student? We think it's between the recent The Tragedy of Macbeth with Denzel Washington (gets great reviews) and the one with Micheal Fassbender from 2015 which is supposed to be pretty faithful to the script. DD quite fancies the Denzel version but has anyone seen it and is it relatively faithful to the play or will it confuse her?

I did this for O Level way back when there were O Levels. Ended up being really geeky about watching loads of versions (including the Orson Welles one!) and being very picky about the ways they diverged from the texts. Watch several OP. Discuss the differences. One of the wonders of Shakespeare is that you can read him in all sorts of ways. Good luck

The Patrick Stewart one I use. But if she’s struggling with the plot, you can’t go wrong with the bbc bitesize KS2 animated version as an absolute starter. Clear basics. Frees up brain space then to get to grips with language.

If you have Audible check out the Macbeth GCSE podcast by William Lloydson. It's about 34 minutes and a bit of fun.

@HesGotHisTrombole

This might be a bit off the wall, but my favourite was a 1990s version called Macbeth on the Estate - you can get it on YouTube last time I checked.

It’s set on a 1990s inner city estate in London but completely authentic language; albeit in a Brummie accent!

I love Macbeth on the Estate! She needs the straightforward story version first, though.

I went to see the one with Christopher Ecclestone in it and I would be being generous to say I thought it was average.
Really agree with the pp above. Trevor Nunn with Ian McKellan and Judi Dench. They are both perfect. The witches are perfect. Free on YouTube
I looked at it with a kid I was tutoring for GCSE and it really helped.
The gimmicky kid witches in the Ecclestone one were awful.

Macbeth on the Estate is great.

I hate the Judi Dench one with every fibre of my being.

I went to see the one with Christopher Ecclestone in it and I would be being generous to say I thought it was average.

I would agree with this. I thought the idea was a good one, it just didn’t quite work.

If I remember correctly the Fassbenser one has an additional for the movie scene which one student cane a cropper with when writing their essay because it referred to that scene. So even if she watches to get the idea of how it pieces together make sure she only writes any answer based on the text.

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

We watched the Judi Dench one at school too

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” .

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!

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!

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).

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.

Here's the graphic full text:

Macbeth

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.

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

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.

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

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!

@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.

@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!!

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!