Macbeth: Foley Sound Effects

One of the fun things about our upcoming production of Macbeth is the use of a live Foley sound station. Named after sound effects artist Jack Foley, Foley is the use of items to reproduce sounds. The practice started in the early 1920s with radio dramas. The idea is to use props and every day objects to reproduce sounds to create a richer radio, theatrical, or film experience. Footsteps, breaking glass, and the swishing of clothes are among the most common Foley effects. The most widely recognized Foley effect is probably in Monty Python And The Holy Grail when they use coconuts to imitate the sound of a horse.

In our production of Macbeth, a number of Foley effects are being used. There's a drum, some fight noise, and other fun moments that the actors take turns creating live during the show.

Foley effects are widely used in film. Hollywood routinely employs these special artists to provide better quality sounds than can be captured during the shoot of a scene. This video has a pretty cool look at all the little details that go on behind the scenes of a TV or film shoot to make the scene that we see on the screen. It's an impressive amount of work by some unsung heroes.

Enjoy the show and be sure to keep your ears open for more than just the beautiful words of the Bard during our production of Macbeth!