Latest news with #TheScottishPlay
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Minneapolis theater that laughed at the curse of 'Macbeth' postpones production
A Minneapolis theater that laughed at the curse of 'Macbeth' postpones production originally appeared on Bring Me The News. "Break a leg," but never "good luck." The theater is full of superstitions, and, outside of that familiar phrase, the most well-known may be the curse of Shakespeare's "Macbeth." The Rough Magic Performance Company laughed in the face of the curse. Now, it's paying the price. Or maybe a simple coincidence has collided with a centuries-old superstition. Either way, the company's all-female "The Macbeths" was scheduled to open on Friday the 13th — another joke about the supposed curse — but the production has been postponed after an actor had to step away for personal reasons. "We were fearless, and we should have respected theater superstitions," Rough Magic Co-Artistic Director Catherine Justice says. "We've been working on this production for a long time, through different iterations, and we had setbacks along the way," she says. "We joked, 'It's not cursed. It's not cursed. We're fine.'" The company continued to joke about the curse even after the director for a workshop got COVID the day rehearsals were supposed to start. They joked when the first rehearsal, sans director, was canceled because the stage manager got food poisoning. Now, having to postpone the production to the fall, their tone has changed. "It really felt like maybe if we had respected those theater superstitions a little bit more, perhaps things might've been different. I don't know," Justice says with a laugh. "Macbeth" productions have trafficked in mishaps from day one. In its first production, in 1606, the actor playing Lady Macbeth died suddenly, and Shakespeare reputedly had to play the part himself, according to the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC also tells stories of a real dagger being used instead of a prop, resulting in the death of an actor; a falling stage weight narrowly missing Laurence Olivier in 1937; and the Astor Place Riot of 1849, when a rivalry between two actors playing Macbeth in separate productions escalated into chaos, resulting in at least 20 deaths. Now, the play comes with a script and a litany of superstitions, including that the name of the play must never be said inside the theater outside of a performance. It is instead referred to as "The Scottish Play." Should an actor say "Macbeth," a ritual is performed to remove the curse. That includes leaving the building, spinning in circles, spitting, cursing, and knocking on the theater door to be let back in. "I am definitely referring to it as 'The Scottish Play' from now on," Justice says. While the play will happen at a later date, the postponement is a "devastating" blow to the small company, which will lose the fees it paid to rent the theater. "We always raise all of the money for our production ahead of time so that any ticket sales seed our next show," Justice says, noting that the company's model has helped ease the blow in this situation. "We're never in a position where we might not be able to pay someone for the work that they've done." While "The Macbeths" is on hold, the space has been rented, and Rough Magic is making the best of the situation. On Friday, it will hold "A Cursed Conversation and Celebration" at the Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis, an event that will have food, a panel discussion about the play, a DJ, dancing, and some group attempts to break the curse. No dates have been announced for when "The Macbeths" will finally arrive, but the company is hopeful it will hit the stage in November. Though rehearsals will look a little different this time. "We're definitely going to call it 'The Scottish Play,' and I think there will be a lot of spinning and spitting and cursing moving forward," Justice says. "At this point, any superstition that anyone brings into the space, we are going to respect it."This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Comedy about amateur stage production of Macbeth set for Kendal
Burneside Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) is set to stage 'The Scottish Play' in Kendal next month. The play is a bittersweet comedy about an amateur dramatics group that has taken on a challenge—putting on a production of one of Shakespeare's great plays: Macbeth. Michael, played by Duncan Cramphorn, the show's director, is the driving force behind the project and is determined to make it a success, regardless of budget, politics or relationships. 'The Scottish Play' is set for the Bryce Burneside in Kendal next month (Image: Supplied) Trouble begins brewing, as Michael has to deal with committee leader Geraldine, played by Jackie O'Sullivan, and boss Les Dye, played by Kevin Beecroft, as well as personal drama. Nigel Crook, first-time BATS director said the play "paints a vivid picture of amdram life and politics." Mr Crook said: "Macbeth is generally considered an unlucky play to perform, and all sorts of actors' superstitions relate to it. "The Scottish Play deals with one man's obsession with producing and directing an amateur production of Macbeth and the disasters, often hilarious, that result. "So, nothing like real amdram life at all." The cast also includes Samm Parker, Ethan Brown, Chris Cross, and Lois Howard. The play, written by Graham Holliday, will show at the Bryce Burneside in north Kendal, from June 11–14 at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Box Office on at 07792 777213 or online at
