By Harry Mottram: English GCSE students and their teachers will be interested to see that The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is to be staged in Bristol in February 2026 as it is one of the texts for this year’s GCSE English Literature. The play runs from 19 Feb – 28 Mar 2026 and has a number of matinees aimed at schools with discounts available.
Written in 1623 the drama is famed for its bloody violence, lies, a ghost, a moving forest, witches and the ambitious couple at the heart of the story who ruthlessly murder their way to become Scotland’s leaders. Loosely based on real events the play is usually seen through an English lens in which Scotland needs to be tamed – coming as it did when James from north of the border succeeded Elizabeth as monarch in London.
The play has been regularly staged in the UK and is one of the Bard’s most famous dramas with numerous film versions. The main photo is of the cast in Bristol in rehearsals.
Below are details from the Tobacco Factory Theatre:
“Blood will have blood.” – Act III, scene 4
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a ruthless exploration of ambition, power, and the cost of forsaking the greater good. When Macbeth hears a prophecy that he is destined to rule, his desire for power overrides loyalty, love, and reason. Together with Lady Macbeth, he steps over the threshold of conscience – and into a world where guilt festers, trust is shattered, and violence begets violence.
This is the story of a man who betrays his own moral compass in pursuit of status – and finds that once ambition replaces love, there is no way back. Set against a backdrop of political turmoil and supernatural dread, Macbeth speaks urgently to our own times: when individualism triumphs over community, the consequences are irreversible.
Directed by Tobacco Factory Theatres’ Artistic Director Heidi Vaughan, this bold new production is charged with her signature ensemble approach – rooted in collaboration, humanity, and emotional depth. Darkly pagan in tone, the soundscape beats with the rhythm of ritual and prophecy: “A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come!” And though the play descends into shadow, Heidi’s work always seeks out the spark of resilience – leaving audiences provoked, moved, and unexpectedly uplifted.
- RUNNING TIME2 hours 30 minutes (incl. interval
- AGE RECOMMENDATION12+
- VENUEFactory Theatre
Evening performances 7.30pm
Matinee performances 1pm (Schools only) & 2pm
Click on Buy Tickets for all performance times
TICKET PRICES:
Give the Gift Tickets from £22 / Standard Tickets from £18 / Concession Tickets from £16
Schools Tickets from £15 (see below for further information)
Tickets at https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/book/?webEventId=5560&facilitated_booking=0
SCHOOL MATINEES
The following performances are schools’ shows:
Tue 26th February 1pm
Tue 3rd March 1pm
Thu 5th March 1pm
Tue 10th March 1pm
Thu 12th March 1pm
Tue 17th March 1pm
Thu 19th March 1pm
If you would like to make a group booking for one of these performances, please email our Box Office at tickets@tobaccofactorytheatres.com
Children’s Theatre
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