Thistle and Steel: Forrest’s Macbeth

By LINDA DUPREE, The Players Foundation

Part of Edwin Forrest's costume for Macbeth

Behold this stunning thistle ornament, glittering with faceted glass and gilt leaves, part of Edwin Forrest’s costume for Macbeth. The thistle, a national emblem of Scotland, underscored the character’s royal claim and Scottish identity.

In our archives, a dramatic print of Forrest in full Macbeth regalia places him in a storm of prophecy and ambition, crowned in pageantry and power.

Edwin Forrest as Macbeth

Forrest and Edwin Booth, two theatrical giants, never shared a stage, but they shared a lineage of rivalry. Forrest’s thunderous power stood in stark contrast to Booth’s elegance and introspection.

Adding another layer: Forrest’s contemporary and occasional rival was Booth’s father, Junius Brutus Booth, who named his son after Forrest.

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Linda Dupree

Linda Dupree, former CEO of NCSolutions, now serves on The Players Foundation board, bringing her corporate leadership to the preservation of theatre and cultural history -- driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts.