Eco-Macbeth
Performance Workshop with Prof Theo Black
Wednesday 15 October 2025
Judith E Wilson drama studio, 2-4pm
This interactive session will investigate the classical elements within Macbeth. Exploring how air, water, earth, and fire animate human characters and shape-shift within Shakespeare’s textual ecosystem as active incarnations, we will investigate the performativity of the text in relation to: the environment, the tragic genre, and embodiment. Our session will close-read instantiations of each elements and then experiment with their power within theatrical contexts.
Theo Black is a professor at Cornell University’s department of Performing and Media Arts, whose work falls within the intersecting fields of the arts and ecology. His most recent practice-based research includes BIOphelia, a performative, collaborative exploration of Hamlet and ecology, and a lecture for The Globe’s conference on Shakespeare & the Climate Emergency. His current project ‘Eco-Macbeth: Nature Fights Back’ is preparatory to an adaptation for staging in 2027.
This workshop is relevant to students thinking about ecocritical approaches to tragedy and to Shakespeare, and to anyone interested in the insights afforded by practice-led research in theatre and performance. The workshop is hosted by Dr. Jennifer Wallace (Peterhouse) and supported by the Judith E Wilson Small Grants Scheme. Those interested in attending/participating should email Dr Wallace (jmbw1@cam.ac.uk) so that we get some idea of numbers. All are Welcome to attend & participate!