

National Theatre Live: Macbeth
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
Synopsis
The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy, directed by Rufus Norris, sees Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff return to the National Theatre to play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Rory Kinnear
Macbeth
Anne-Marie Duff
Lady Macbeth
Stephen Boxer
Duncan
Patrick O'Kane
Macduff
Amaka Okafor
Lady Macduff
Andrew Frame
Siward
Trevor Fox
Porter
Parth Thakerar
Malcolm
Kevin Harvey
Banquo
Nadia Albina
Gentlewoman
Michael Balogun
Doctor
Hannah Hutch
Witch
Nicholas Karimi
Lennox
Joshua Lacey
Murderer
Penny Layden
Ross
Anna-Maria Nabirye
Witch
Hauk Pattison
Ensemble
Alana Ramsey
Murderer
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rufus Norris
- Screenplay & Story
- William Shakespeare
- Original Title
- National Theatre Live: Macbeth
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Production Studios
- National Theatre
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rufus Norris
William Shakespeare
Department Leadership Roster
Rufus Norris
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Macbeth.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Macbeth.
list11
National Theatre Live
All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.
National Theatre Live
National Theatre
Watchlist
Theatre
Similar Titles to National Theatre Live: Macbeth
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like National Theatre Live: Macbeth
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: Macbeth
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is National Theatre Live: Macbeth about?
The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy, directed by Rufus Norris, sees Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff return to the National Theatre to play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Who directed National Theatre Live: Macbeth?
National Theatre Live: Macbeth was directed by Rufus Norris.
Who stars in National Theatre Live: Macbeth?
The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Macbeth includes Rory Kinnear, Anne-Marie Duff, Stephen Boxer, Patrick O'Kane, Amaka Okafor.
When was National Theatre Live: Macbeth released and how long is it?
National Theatre Live: Macbeth was released in 2018 with a total runtime of 2h 18m.




















