Macbeth Illustration

The Isle of Skye has been confirmed as a shooting location for the latest version of Macbeth to take to the silver screen. The Hollywood blockbuster, starring Oscar contender Michael Fassbender in the title roll, has received £200,000 worth of support from arts body Creative Scotland for several on-location shoots due to take place later this month in the north of Skye.

Known as Shakespeare’s Scottish play, the film adaptation is set to be a traditional retelling of the story of the 11th century general-turned King of Scotland. The film’s synopsis reads, “Macbeth is the story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realities of the times and a truthful re-imagining of what wartime must have really been like for one of Shakespeare’s most famous and compelling characters, a story of all-consuming passion and ambition set in war torn 11th Century Scotland.”

Lady Macbeth will be played by French Oscar winner Marion Cotrillard, who last week voiced concern that her attempted Scots accent may curse the film. A source said: “Marion worked with a voice coach to learn the accent but it drove her crazy and she feared she would ruin the film. The idea of Lady Macbeth speaking with a French accent is entirely legitimate, taking into account the French-Scottish alliance of that time.”

WINDFARM THREATENS MACBETH HILL FORT

In other Macbeth related news, a major campaign was launched last week to prevent what would be Perthshire’s tallest windfarm being built near an ancient hill fort immortalised in the play. The owners of the Bandirran Estate and green energy company Banks Renewables have submitted a joint application to develop a “community” wind project near Balbeggie and close to the historic fort on Dunsinane Hill.

The development has sparked an outcry among residents and anti-windfarm campaigners, who it will overshadow the scenic Sidlaw Hills in Perthshire and the hill fort made famous when, in the early 1600s, William Shakespeare wrote: “Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”.

The Braes of the Carse Conservation Group has launched a Save our Sidlaws campaign, aimed at blocking the development.

Marilyn Webb, the group’s secretary, said: “Six massive wind turbines are proposed for the initial development. These would be over twice the height of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, bigger than Big Ben and out of all proportion to the surrounding landscape.

“They will be visible from Birnam Wood and large parts of central eastern Scotland – the Three Witches never predicted this one.”

The post Macbeth News: Blockbuster Set to Film on Skye, Windfarm Threatens Hill Fort appeared first on ScotClans | Scottish Clans.

Imagined 19th Century Portrait of Macbeth

Prompted by historical revisions to Richard III’s reign upon discovery of his remains, Scottish MSP Alex Johnstone has called for a motion in parliament to review Macbeth’s reign.

Richard III and Macbeth were both portrayed as villains by Shakespeare, however the recent discovery of Richard III’s twisted and battle-scarred remains in a Leicester carpark has led some historians to suggest the King was unfairly maligned.

Mr Johnstone has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament arguing that Shakespeare’s Macbeth “is arguably more a reflection on the relationship between Shakespeare and his patron, King James VI, rather than an attempt at historical accuracy”.

Johnstone said the Richard III debate should act as the catalyst to right the wrongs about Macbeth, namely the murders and paranoia that run rife throughout the play. “In striking contrast to Shakespeare’s version of events, we know that Macbeth not only had a long reign in comparison to many monarchs of the time but his throne was secure enough to allow him to go on pilgrimage to Rome; an arduous trip at the time that some subsequent monarchs might not have risked for fear of being deposed in their absence.”

He added: “It is ironic that he remains an iconic monarch to this day largely because of Shakespeare, but I would rather he was iconic on the basis of facts rather than fiction. In modern parlance, it’s like suggesting people should learn about medieval Scottish history by watching Braveheart.”

Johnstone suggested the review could reignite awareness of Macbeth and Scottish history during the 11th century, and boost visitor numbers to associated sites such as Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire and Glamis in Angus.

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Glamis Castle

Glamis Castle near Forfar in Angus is Scotland’s, and one of Britain’s most haunted castles. However it is trying to distance itself from the paranormal stories that the place is famous for, and instead attempt to rebrand as a family-friendly visitor attraction.

Glamis, a gift from Robert II to Sir John Lyon, is the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore. It was also the childhood home of the Queen Mother, and birth place of Princess Margaret, and the home of Macbeth in the Shakespeare play of the same name. It are these royal connections that the marketing chiefs want the castle to be associated and attract people with, rather than focusing on the ghosts.

The castle’s general manager David Adams said, “We don’t encourage ghost-hunters, we don’t encourage ghost-hunting TV programmes and we certainly don’t encourage people who want to come in and do overnight stays to try and locate ghosts.

“We don’t want anything to do with that. If you happen to believe that stuff, that’s fine but we don’t.

“There are various myths and legends surrounding the castle but they are just that.

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that there are any supernatural beings in the castle.”

However professional paranormal investigator Mark Turner of Ghost Finders Scotland was surprised by this stance.

“Glamis’ reputation as the most haunted castle in Scotland is its unique selling point. Publicly announcing that there are no ghosts at Glamis is like people in the Highlands saying there is no monster in Loch Ness.”

There are many fascinating tales about the ghosts that supposedly haunt Glamis Castle. Legend has it that the spirit of Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis, also known as the Grey Lady, walks around the castle’s chapel, whilst the soul of the Earl Beardie is destined to spend eternity in a walled up chamber in the castle gambling the nights away with the devil but always losing.

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