In Macbeth how does Shakespeare present his material to flatter James I?
He says a lot about kingship in the play
He made the main characters speak flatteringly to James during the performance
The play is set in Scotland and deals with witchcraft, about which James had written a book
What does the colour red represent in the design scheme of a violent play?
Blood and therefore injury and death
Political allegiance
Male authority
What difference does the choice of period costume make to an actor?
It can make a show look better
It can affect the actor's mood, emotion and movement
It can make the production feel out of date
What considerations might an actor give language in a period piece?
Adopt slang or a particular accent to denote class or origin
Research the meaning of words
Speak faster because the play is longer than usual
What should the director do when looking at a key moment for understanding the context of a play?
Adopt a technique such as a dramatic pause to highlight the moment in performance
Underline such a moment in the script
Instruct the actors to speed up
Why is it significant that Mr Birling is talking about the Titanic as being unsinkable in An Inspector Calls?
It makes it exciting to wonder if the ship will be safe
It makes Mr Birling seem a very knowledgeable character
The audience knows that Mr Birling is wrong, as he is about so much
What consideration regarding the witches could a director of Macbeth have when planning a production in a contemporary setting?
Not wanting the audience to laugh as most people today do not believe in witches
Not scaring the audience
Stopping people being upset by what happens and starting to believe in witches
Which member of the production team is initially responsible for researching the context of the play?
The set designer
The director
The wardrobe master / mistress
What is the benefit of having costumes that suggest two time periods, eg modern and Elizabethan times?
It allows you to draw from two contexts at the same time
It saves money as more items from the costume cupboard can be used
It makes the context less obvious
Where was Macbeth on the Estate set?
On a large country house estate
On a council estate in Birmingham
In an urban comprehensive school