The Palo Alto High School Theater Department is bringing tragedy to the stage with “Macbeth” starting on Friday, making it the final large-scale production in the Haymarket Theatre.

According to theater teacher and “Macbeth” director Kathleen Woods, the performance is different than typical shows; the memories of the Haymarket Theater building, combined with the excitement for the show, make it a bittersweet moment.

“It [‘Macbeth’] feels rich because the play also has so many layers and so many students involved,” Woods said. “I do think a lot about the whole history of the building and the performances, and it [‘Macbeth’] brings that up to the surface in a positive way.”

Although the show will follow the traditional script, according to senior assistant director Sophie Swezey, there have been some changes made in the production of the show.

“The script has been cut a bit, just in the interest of time,” Swezey said.

In addition, the actors will utilize modern props, costumes and sets as the performance is set in present-day. 

According to junior assistant stage manager Georgia Touloukian, “Macbeth” will employ more detailed technical aspects.

“There are amazing portraits [and] a bunch of scene changes where periaktos are used to change the look of the stage from an interior look to an outdoor stone wall look,” Touloukian said. “And of course there is a lot of fake blood.”

The department chose to present “Macbeth” partially due to the Haymarket Theater’s replacement with a new building, according to Swezey.

“It’s a tradition to close a theater with ‘Macbeth,’ which is part of the reason that we’re doing it,” Swezey said. “While the Haymarket is not actually closing, it is Paly Theater’s last production [in the Haymarket Theatre].” 

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Feb. 27, March 4 and March 5. The final performance will be at 2 p.m. on March 6. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults.