Macbeth is by a playwright.
Macbeth ( [ məkˈbɛθ ] full title The Tragedy of Macbeth ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare ; it is thought to have been first performed in 1606 . William Shakespeare ( [ ˈʃeɪkspɪə ] 26 April 1564 ( baptised ) -- 23 April 1616 ) was an English : poet , : playwright , and actor , widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world 's pre-eminent dramatist .