MacBeth

If you’ve ever had a career in the arts, or know someone who has, you are likely aware that saying the word “Macbeth” inside a theatre is strictly taboo unless one is rehearsing or in the midst of performing Shakespeare’s dark tragedy. Doing so is almost universally believed to bring about bad luck or even disaster. To avoid the portentous curse, actors refer to the play as “The Scottish Play.” According to folklore, the play’s history of bad luck began with its first performance, when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare himself was forced to assume the role.