William Shakespeare's first production of Macbeth was performed at the Old Globe Theatre in 1606. At the time James I was the king of Great Britain and Scotland. In 1606 his brother-in-law Christian IV visited King James. Many scholars suggest that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in honor if Christian's visit. The connection between King James I and Macbeth can be seen in many elements of the script. First, Banquo's character is portrayed as an honest and strongman. He was to have been a descendent of the king. Second it believed that Shakespeare added witchcraft to the plot only to please the king (Asimov 1). Some scholars argue that Shakespeare first presented Macbeth in front of the king of Denmark at Hampton Court (Kay 318). But, there is little evidence to support that theory. The King probably went to the Old Globe Theatre to see Macbeth.

Few specifics are known about the original Globe Theatre. It is believed to have been eight sided. It was an outside theatre that took on a round appearance and stood three stories high. The Globe theatre had a platform stage where the audience sat on three sides. It was similar to a modern day thrust theater. The ori

The company consisted of the shareholders, the hirelings, and apprentices. Three groups of men worked in the Theatre Company. The senior actors played the principle roles. They also were the management, producing and directing team. These men were all shareholders in the company. The hired actors played Shakespeare's minor roles and also made up the team of musicians, stage managers and wardrobe personnel. The third group of men consisted of boy apprentices. These were highly trained boys who had not yet reached puberty. It was the fact that all of the boys played the female roles Shakespeare purposely did not write long and important speeches in the script for Lady Macbeth. In fact if the acting was stylized at the globe theatre it was because the boys needed the stylization to act out their roles believably.

Bentley, Gerald. Shakespeare: A Biographical Handbook. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1961.

The audience of Jacobean theatre was made out of every social class. There were three different prices for seats at the globe Theatre. The poor could pay a penny and stand while watching a performance. If a citizen could pay two pennies they were seated towards the back of the theatre. The wealthy higher classes paid three pennies and were seated on pillows on the balcony where they could see and be seen.

The Lord Chamberlain's Men theatre company first produced Macbeth. James Burbage owned the theatre and his son Richard was became the lead actor in the company. It is believed that he was the first Hamlet, Lear and Macbeth (Nagler, 72). It can be assumed that Robert Arnim played the Porter. William Sly is guessed to have played the broken hearted Macduff. T.W. Baldwin believes that Shakespeare himself played the role of King Duncan (Nagler 75). Although there is very little e

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