Lady Macbeth Was Never a Girl - Short Film

A school term, a pair of forgotten joggers, a line from a play — in the ordinary spaces of uniformed days, one student starts to notice a quiet disconnect between who they are and who they’re expected to be.

In the grey rhythms of a British secondary school, a student begins to sense something unspoken — a discomfort that has no name, just a feeling that the role they’re playing doesn’t quite fit. Through the quiet rituals of uniforms, registers, and school corridors, this 8-minute short traces the first flickers of identity forming — not through revelation, but recognition.

Lady Macbeth was Never a Girl is a poignant coming-of-age drama set in a 1990s British secondary school, exploring gender, identity, and the subtle acts of rebellion that carve space for self-discovery. We are seeking funds to contribute to the production of this important cinematic short.

Who's involved

Francesca McBride

Francesca is a actor, artistic director and writer who trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before undertaking a MA at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is a Young Trustee for the National Youth Theatre and has previously trained with Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and Hampshire Youth Theatre. Self-diagnosed as a playful Shakespeare nerd, their work is nuanced, generous and hopeful and they bring intelligence and energy to the projects they work on.

Isabel Hall - Director

Isabel Hall is the RTS Student Award-winning director of Sub Rosa, a film set in 1960s UK which explores the emotional journey of two sisters, whose lives are forever changed by the elder’s mysterious pregnancy and its aftermath, leading to a poignant revelation years later that tests the depths of their bond and resilience. The film speaks to the ongoing battles for the right to decide about one's body, assert one's identity, and reclaim one's autonomy.

Dannie Dart - Producer

Dannie is an actor - producer - director based in Bristol, who has recently graduated a Screen Acting MA at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Dannie is passionate about using cinema as a form of activism to tell important and underrepresented stories.

Dannie’s production credits include Cardboard Village, a story of gentrification in areas of poverty, much like where she grew up, To Build a Bigger Table, which explores the lived experience of asylum-seeking young people in the UK and the foster carers who support them, and The Presence, a short film exploring societal transphobia through psychological horror tropes.