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Episode details

Radio Wiltshire,3 mins

Did the curse of Macbeth cause a calamity in Salisbury?

Ben Prater

Available for over a year

A Wiltshire playbill, from the British Library's collection, was put up in March of 1834 to advertise a performance of Macbeth at Salisbury's theatre. It announces the lead actor has returned to the role after 'a domestic calamity', which forced him to postpone a previous performance. Could it have been the so-called curse of Macbeth? And why is everyone so superstitious about the Scottish play? BBC Wiltshire’s Ben Prater spoke to Professor Alison Shell from University College, London who reads the announcement from the playbill. Playbill credit: British Library collection

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