William Shakespeare's Macbeth was performed at the Bishop's Barn as part of the Wells Theatre Festival 2024.
The story is told:
After a battle in Scotland, Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet the wayward women who make three prophecies - Macbeth will be thane of Cawdor, Macbeth will be King and Banquo's offspring will be Kings. The witches' first prophecy comes true as the Queen of Scotland promotes Macbeth to Thane of Cawdor. When the Queen visits Macbeth's castle, Lady Macbeth persuades
Macbeth to murder her in her sleep to make the second prophecy come true.
With Lady Macbeth's help, Macbeth frames the Queen's dead servants as the murderers. The Queen's two children, Malcolm and Donalbain, leave Scotland for their own safety. Now King, Macbeth worries about the wayward women's third prophecy and orders the murders of Banquo and his daughter. At a banquet, Macbeth is haunted by visions of Banquo's ghost in front of all his guests.
Macbeth revisits the wayward women and they tell him - "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" and that he won't be defeated until Birnam Wood moves. He thinks he's invincible.
While Macduff is in England convincing the Queen's son Malcolm to fight against Macbeth, Macbeth has Macduff's family murdered. Macduff and Malcolm arrive in Scotland with an army. On their way to attack Macbeth's castle, they cut down branches from the trees in Birnam Wood to use as camouflage. When the wood moves, another one of the prophecies comes true. Macduff reveals that he was born by a caesarean birth and kills Macbeth, fulfilling the final prophecy.