Shakespeare and Company brought Macbeth to Kent School one Monday in April. This event, which drew a crowd of students and teachers to Mattison Auditorium, was organized by Ms. Morris as part of the Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS). The play combined the courses of theater, English, and music into a multidisciplinary experience.

Ms. Morris emphasized the importance of watching Shakespeare’s work live: “Shakespeare’s plays were written to be performed, not just read. Watching this production helps students understand the emotions that text alone can’t convey.” The timing of the performance also coincided with the curriculum, as the third-form English classes had studied Macbeth, so the performance could reinforce what they learned in class. Michael Zhou commented that  “the performance was intriguing and refreshed my memory of the play.”

There were two major highlights of this performance. First, the actors broke the “fourth wall,” which is the invisible barrier separating audiences and performers. During Act 3, Scene 4, the actors invited the audience into Macbeth’s banquet scene after Macbeth murdered Banquo. Everyone in the auditorium raised an imaginary toast, transforming passive audience members into active participants. This immersive experience increased engagement and left a lasting impression on students. 

Second, the casting defied tradition: all characters were played by six women—Shiree Adkins, Leslie Field, Joslyn Eaddy Meléndez, Mollie Murk, Kallie Pong, and Malle Winters. By reimagining Shakespeare’s male-dominated narrative through a female lens, the production highlighted themes of equality and feminism and turned the Shakespearean tradition of all roles being played by men on its head.