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Macbeth: everything you need to know in 5 frames

To mark Stratford's reimagining of Macbeth, Shakespeare's gory tragedy in 5 comic frames.

Regicide, suicide and all the other 'cides from Shakespeare's classic gory tragedy

Jesse Kinos-Goodin · CBC ·
To mark Stratford's new production of Macbeth, here is Shakespeare's classic tragedy in 5 comic frames. (Heather Collett)

Canada's famed Stratford Festival held its first performance of Macbeth, Shakespeare's 1606 tragedy about an ambitious politician who resorts to regicide to achieve his goals, 55 years ago. Since then, the Bard has become synonymous with the city of Stratford and its festival, which is launching its 65th season in 2017 with a large scale reimagining of the classic play. 

For those less familiar with the work, we've summarized it below in 5 comic frames, illustrated by Heather Collett. It begins with the witches' prophecy, moves through Macbeth's murder of King Duncan, his crowning as the King of Scotland, his pursuing guilt and Lady's Macbeth's famous "Out, damned spot" soliloquy. It ends with — spoiler alert — Macbeth's eventual demise. 

For the full version, the Stratford Festival's Macbeth screens at Cineplex Cinemas on March 18.  

To mark Stratford's new production of Macbeth, here is Shakespeare's classic tragedy in 5 comic frames. (Heather Collett)

— Jesse Kinos-Goodin, q digital staff