A military base, somewhere in the world. Three women gather, and plan to meet Macbeth on the heath.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

In recognition of soldier Macbeth’s bravery in helping to repel a rebellion, King Duncan announces his intention to make him Thane of Cawdor (a high-ranking military commander). Macbeth and his friend Banquo hear of this promotion from three witches, who add that Macbeth shall become king but that the descendants of Banquo will also become kings.

Macbeth sends this news to his wife by letter and she determines that her husband will become king. Macbeth arrives with the news that Duncan will stay at their castle that night. The Macbeths decide that they will kill Duncan.

Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty.

That night, with Lady Macbeth’s support, Macbeth murders Duncan – and then also her two guards. The crime is discovered in the morning. In spite of Macduff’s suspicions towards Macbeth, blame falls upon Duncan’s son, Malcolm, who has fled from Scotland.

In their absence, Macbeth is duly elected king, but the witches’ prophecy makes him suspicious of Banquo, and he orders his murder. Banquo is killed, but his son Fleance escapes. At a banquet held at Macbeth’s castle, the ghost of Banquo appears to the king alone.

I am in blood
Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.

Macbeth consults the witches, who conjure up apparitions warning him to fear Macduff, but seeming to reassure him that ‘none of woman born’ can defeat him and that he will remain unvanquished until ‘great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him’.

Macbeth remains suspicious of Macduff, and when he learns that she has fled to England, Macbeth orders the slaughter of her wife and children. In exile in England, Macduff meets Malcolm. Following a test of Macduff’s character and the arrival of news describing the terrible fate of her family, Macduff and Malcolm join forces against Macbeth.

As Macbeth prepares for battle, a grief-stricken Lady Macbeth wrangles with her guilt. Malcolm’s soldiers, clad in combat gear and camouflage, disguise themselves as trees, and march towards the castle. It appears as though Birnam Wood itself is moving, fulfilling the witches’ prophecy.

What’s done cannot be undone.

Battle commences and Macbeth and Macduff fight at length. As they come together, Macduff reveals that she was ‘from her mother’s womb untimely ripped’ and so the rest of the witches’ prophecy is also fulfilled. Macbeth is killed and Malcolm is hailed king of Scotland.

Hail, King of Scotland!