Macbeth Superstitions

The Superstition: Probably the most well known theatre superstition involves William Shakespeare's play, MacBeth -- often called, by actors, 'the bards play' or 'the Scottish play'. The superstition follows that any company performing the play will be beset with horrible luck, ranging anywhere from uncanny accidents on the set to actual deaths within the company! In fact, in many parts, it is not only the production of the play that will strike fear, but quoting …

…an attempt to boost ticket sales and attendance, would announce production of a crowd favorite . . . MacBeth. If times were particularly bad, even 'the bard's play' would not be enough to save the company, therefore, MacBeth often frequently presaged the end of a company's season, and would be a portent of the company's demise. Therefore, the fear of MacBeth was generally the fear of bad business and of an entire company being put out of work.