Macbeth, Drama by William Shakespeare

Play by William Shakespeare first performed in 1606. It is set in Scotland and England in the 11th century. The plot is not only based on Shakespeare's fantasy, but takes up some pieces of Scottish history (with occasional nods towards the new Stuart king James I).

In the Restoration (in 1663 to be precise), the play was turned into a semi-opera by William Davenant with music, flying witches and spectacular scenes.

There is a persistent superstition in English-speaking countries that using the name "Macbeth" (except when you are in a performance of the play proper) in the theatre brings bad luck. One is supposed to use the term "Scottish play" instead. In Germany, however, this superstition is not known.

Literature: Shakespeare, William: Macbeth. Edited by Rex Gibson. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1993.