THE NATIONAL Theatre of Scotland is being sued for $20 million (£13m) after its Macbeth run on Broadway, giving credence to superstition that Shakespeare's "Scottish play" brings back luck to actors.

The company's production, which starred Alan Cumming, is set to go to court to defend an action by a stagehand who claims he was injured after a temporary wall fell on him.

Jason Makula says he sustained injuries which led to large medical bills and which have left him with "continuous pain and suffering in the future", hampering his ability to work.

Mr Makula claims NTS fell short of required safety standards by failing to use proper equipment to remove the stage wall at the end of the play's run last July at the Jazz at Lincoln Centre, where he worked.

NTS's lawyers have denied responsibility and both sides are due to appear before a judge in a pre-trial conference on May 20. If no settlement is reached, the case should come to trial within 45 days.

The "Scottish play" is infamous for the disasters that have befallen productions since it was first performed in 1606 when the actor playing Lady Macbeth became mysteriously ill and Shakespeare himself had to step into his shoes. In subsequent productions, many actors have been burned, stabbed, suffered heart attacks, died of fever or lost their voice.