Episodes

EpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
01Macbeth - Tyrant or Treasure?20070813

Was the legendary Macbeth a murdering monster, bloody tyrant and paranoid thief of the throne or generous and popular king who ruled a happy Scotland for 17 years?

If you think you know all about him, then think again as the real Macbeth comes back to life to help sort fact from the more familiar Shakespearean fiction.

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

Was Macbeth a murderous tyrant or a generous and popular king?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

01Macbeth - Tyrant or Treasure?2007081320080301 (R4)

Was the legendary Macbeth a murdering monster, bloody tyrant and paranoid thief of the throne or generous and popular king who ruled a happy Scotland for 17 years?

If you think you know all about him, then think again as the real Macbeth comes back to life to help sort fact from the more familiar Shakespearean fiction.

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

Was Macbeth a murderous tyrant or a generous and popular king?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

02Lady Macbeth - Monster or Princess?20070814

Was Lady Macbeth a barren, ambitious, overbearing monster who goes mad from guilt?

Or was she a true royal princess, hailed first queen of Scots, who had to marry the man who murdered her husband?

If you think you know all about Macbeth then think again as the real Macbeth comes back to life to help sort fact from the more familiar Shakespearean fiction.

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

Was Lady Macbeth a monster or true royal princess?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

02Lady Macbeth - Monster or Princess?2007081420080308 (R4)

Was Lady Macbeth a barren, ambitious, overbearing monster who goes mad from guilt?

Or was she a true royal princess, hailed first queen of Scots, who had to marry the man who murdered her husband?

If you think you know all about Macbeth then think again as the real Macbeth comes back to life to help sort fact from the more familiar Shakespearean fiction.

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

Was Lady Macbeth a monster or true royal princess?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

03The Myth of the Witches20070815

The three witches boiling up trouble for the would-be king in their cauldron on the heath is one of the most famous and familiar dramatic images from Shakespeare's Macbeth.

But the witches didn't exist in the real Macbeth's time so how and why did they become part of the myth?

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

How did the three witches become part of the Macbeth myth?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

03The Myth of the Witches2007081520080315 (R4)

The three witches boiling up trouble for the would-be king in their cauldron on the heath is one of the most famous and familiar dramatic images from Shakespeare's Macbeth.

But the witches didn't exist in the real Macbeth's time so how and why did they become part of the myth?

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

How did the three witches become part of the Macbeth myth?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

04The Reality of Macbeth's landscape20070816

How does William Shakespeare's dramatic landscape compare with the real thing?

The real Macbeth comes back to life to take us on a tour of the landscape of the famous play.

But just how far-fetched is the blasted heath, Cawdor, Glamis, Birnam Wood and Dunsinane from the landscape of the real Macbeth's story?

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

How does Shakespeare\u2019s dramatic landscape compare with the real thing?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

04The Reality of Macbeth's landscape2007081620080322 (R4)

How does William Shakespeare's dramatic landscape compare with the real thing?

The real Macbeth comes back to life to take us on a tour of the landscape of the famous play.

But just how far-fetched is the blasted heath, Cawdor, Glamis, Birnam Wood and Dunsinane from the landscape of the real Macbeth's story?

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

How does Shakespeare\u2019s dramatic landscape compare with the real thing?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

05The Political Spinning of Macbeth20070817

How was Macbeth's story spun out of all recognition by the politics of kingship?

From the chroniclers of history to the nib of William Shakepeare's quill - if you thought the art of 'spin' was a new phenomenon, think again.

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

How was Macbeth\u2019s story distorted by politics?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation

05The Political Spinning of Macbeth2007081720080329 (R4)

How was Macbeth's story spun out of all recognition by the politics of kingship?

From the chroniclers of history to the nib of William Shakepeare's quill - if you thought the art of 'spin' was a new phenomenon, think again.

Liam Brennan stars as MacBeth with members of The National Theatre of Scotland.

Producer: Pennie Latin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007

How was Macbeth\u2019s story distorted by politics?

Series comparing the known historical facts about Macbeth with Shakespeare's dramatisation