Macbeth I: The Politics of Power

In this first of three medium-length films from Encyclopedia Britannica, actor-director Douglas Campbell offers his interpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy in terms of the power structures and politics of the mythic milieu.

It's certainly a reasonable interpretation, and one that could make for a good production -- although since he's talking about the subtext of the play, it's uncertain how much of this would be evident. Theater is a collaborative medium, and I recall only one production in which the actor playing Hamlet was replaced after the beginning; I had been admiring his decision to play MacBeth as tired and hoarse from shouting orders in battle, only to discover he had begun the play while suffering from a very bad cold. Certainly a director may may work on all of this with a performer, but when the actor strides onto stage, he's in command of the interpretation.