Voodoo Macbeth

Macbeth
Poster by Anthony Velonis
Written by
Date premieredApril 14, 1936
Place premieredLafayette Theatre, Harlem, New York
Original languageEnglish
GenreTragedy
The closing four minutes of the production are preserved in the 1937 film, We Work Again.

The Voodoo Macbeth is a common nickname for the Federal Theatre Project's 1936 New York production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Orson Welles adapted and directed the production, moved the play's setting from Scotland to a fictional Caribbean island, recruited an entirely Black cast, and earned the nickname for his production from the Haitian vodou that fulfilled the role of Scottish witchcraft.[1]: 86  A box office sensation, the production is regarded as a landmark theatrical event for several reasons: its innovative interpretation of the play, its success in promoting African-American theatre, and its role in securing the reputation of its 20-year-old director.

  1. ^ Kliman, Bernice W. (1992). Macbeth. Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 0719027314.