The Tempest

The Tempest

The Tempest

Around 1610 or 1611 William Shakespeare first created the work “The Tempest” for the stage and though it would be many decades (around the 1640s) before it would find a sizable audience the play would eventually become a large part of the Shakespeare back-catalogue, so much so that it is still performed regularly around the world to this day. Now the latest version of the production heads to the Haymarket theatre in London’s West End where audiences will not only witness a play from the world’s most famous playwright but also a production directed by the acclaimed Trevor Nunn and starring the well known Ralph Fiennes.

The show will see Trevor Nunn returning to the director’s chair for the third time in 2011 following two other shows taking to the stage under his watch as Artistic Director of the Haymarket Theatre. The others take the form of “Flare Path” earlier in the year and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”, though his career has also seen him direct a wide range of acclaimed productions. Over the 2010/2011 season he directed “Birdsong” at the Comedy Theatre, whilst London theatre audiences also witnessed shows such as “A Little Night Music” and “Aspects of Love” at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

In “The Tempest” we follow the character of Prospero, who is usurped as the Duke of Milan by his brother Antonio. As a result he is banished from his kingdom and forced out to sea alongside his daughter, where they eventually happen upon an island. It is here that he uses his powers to conjure up a home for the two of them and make a life for themselves, but Prospero feels that his daughter deserves her rightful place in Milan and decides to concoct a plan to bring his conspirators to him. He conjures up a gigantic storm that lures them to his side.

Ralph Fiennes portrays the lead role following a career that has seen him earn great acclaim onstage and onscreen, with previous performances in “Oedipus the King” at the National Theatre in 2008, plus movies like “The English Patient”, “The Constant Gardner”, “Schindler’s List” and “The Hurt Locker”, among others.

The Tempest runs at the Haymarket Theatre from Tuesday 6th September 2011 (previews from Saturday 27th August 2011) until Saturday 29th October 2011.