For all those wondering what they can expect if they come to see the GRADS' production, this is the media statement that has gone out:

GRADS OFFER A SCREAMINGLY GOOD NIGHT OUT

Shakespeare’s Macbeth has often been described as a ‘winter’ play, but in The University of Western Australia’s Grads’ new production, director Garreth Bradshaw will make Perth’s autumn heat work in his favour.

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So, about this curse then?

The curse of Macbeth is so potent that I personally have seen many people, mostly thespians, get extremely offended if you dare mention the play regardless of whether you are inside or outside a theatre. Indeed at one school I was praccing at I witnessed a teacher give one of her students the ear bashing of a lifetime for muttering the name of "The Scottish Play". Surely, with so much belief being placed in the truth of the curse, there must be something to it, right? Here is a list of accidents that I found that have been associated with the play:

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Why are we here? Why is it that we are paricipating in the so called "community theatre"? Many say that it is for the love of it, the love of stepping out onto the stage and using amazing words to lift an audience beyond the mundanity of their normal every day life. I see very little of this in the community theatre, what I see is a community devided and a community devided is not a community. Every year the Finley awards cause the same ruckus and every year it's the same bitchy comments which spring to life again.

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You can't help but feeling an amazing power high when you step out in front of a crowd at the Woodlake amphitheatre. At least 100 pairs of eyes all on you, watching every movement, every gesture, every sadistic grin that crosses your lips and what's more you can see them watching. You become suddenly filled with this sense of awe as you realise you have this audience hanging off your every word and sitting snugly in the palm of your hands, ready to go on the journey with you right to its bitter end.

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Why does he do what he does? Is it jealousy? Lust? Anger? Revenge? Because he can? Love of the moor? Love of money? Is it a class based struggle? Is he what he is or is he what he is not?

Iago is 28, he's a soldier; standard bearer, beserker and personal assistant to the moorish general of the venetian army. Outwardly he is a simple man with simple needs, he speaks plainly and honestly and seemingly would rather destroy himself than see harm come to his friends. Underneath lies an intelligent, twisted and unashamedly evil man; he dosen't seem to have any mental problems indeed he seems to be completely in control of himself and his mental faculties. He goes about doing what he does knowing that it will cause harm and he does it anyway. More than once he refers to making a pact with hell and having an extensive knowledge of demonology, so much so that he feels his actions imitate the demons of hell. When Iago is unmasked at the end Othello refers to him as a demi-devil and the chance to claim reprieve and explain that he has been wronged by Othello because he suspects Othello of sleeping with his wife, a thought which gnaws his inwards like a poison if we are to believe with what he has said earlier, instead Iago bursts out in absolute triumph "what you know you know, from this time forth I never will speak word". Leaving us puzzling, so WHY does he do it?

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