Open-Air Theatre

Alternative title: Cornwall’s Minack Open-Air Theatre
Synopsis: British Pathe newsfilm item. Preparations for, and scenes from, a production of Macbeth at the Minack Cliff Theatre, an open-air theatre in Porthcurno, Cornwall which opened in 1932. Includes shots of the actor playing Duncan applying make-up in a mirror held for him by a woman. Another actor (Macbeth?) applies fake blood to a stage knife. Another actor has a fake nose applied. The narrator recounts the history of the theatre as the actors begin their show. Close-up of two spectators. Gwladys (sic) Main sits on a bench sewing a costume- she sews bottle tops to fabric to make a suit of ‘armour’. Shot of the actors performing a scene then playwright-producer Nora Ratcliffe watching the rehearsal and making notes. Frequent and arresting shots of the setting and ocean.
Series: Colour Pictorial
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Film
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Year of release: 1965
Notes: Issue number 033; the first of three items. The newsfilm may be viewed online from the ITN Source website.
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Open-air theatre

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