"Voodoo Macbeth"
The 1936 production of Macbeth in Harlem, New York City, directed by Orson Welles, is often referred to as “Voodoo Macbeth.” (“Voodoo” is the common term for an often misunderstood collection of Caribbean religious practices.) The production used the original text of the play but set it on a fictional Caribbean island similar to Haiti, with the famous witches replaced by priests performing traditional Haitian rituals. It had an all-Black cast of 150 people, which was a revolutionary concept for performances of Shakespeare at the time. Welles, who is white, knew that the audience of this Macbeth would have many of the same ideas and associations with the concept of “voodoo” as the original audience of Macbeth in 1606 would have had with the Scottish witchcraft Shakespeare includes in the play. The term “voodoo” was misunderstood by many people at this time in often racist ways, and the production caused controversy from multiple sides.
The play was extremely popular, with audiences lining up around the block to see it in Harlem. Out of the cast of 150, only four were professional actors, and many of the cast and ensemble had never acted or performed before. The success of the production helped many of the actors’ careers and gave them new opportunities. For example, the actor that played Banquo later went on to be a respected stage and film performer and the first African-American to play the role of Caliban in The Tempest. The production also featured African drummers and dancers. You can see in these images that the costumes and sets were large and elaborate, and large amounts of actors were often on stage at a time. Imagine being a young performer, maybe in your first opportunity to be on stage, surrounded by these visual effects, such a large and energetic cast, and the excitement of a fascinated audience. According to the New York Times, the audience gave a 15-minute standing ovation on opening night!
The production later went on tour throughout the country. It caused even more controversy when it played in the segregated Southern states. Today, “Voodoo Macbeth” is rarely remembered, but it was an important moment in cultural history and changed the way people thought about Shakespeare.
Places to learn more about “Voodoo Macbeth”:
https://dp.la/exhibitions/the-show/african-american-theatre-impac/orson-welles-voodoo-macbeth