The Tempest: 9 February-3 March 2012

by William Shakespeare, abridged by Bernie C. Byrnes / directed by Bernie C. Byrnes

The Tempest runs for approximately 1 hour 20 minutes with no interval.
Note that the dates given in the RSC publicity are incorrect - those below are the correct dates. The run at Network Theatre is now complete.

NEW PERFORMANCE: The Tempest has been selected to appear in the RSC Open Stages Showcase at Questors on Friday 13 April 2012 at 7.45pm. We will be presenting a full performance. More information and tickets are available from Questors (box office 020 8567 5184).

An exciting new collaborative production under the banner of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The year is 1962. A revolution is brewing in the back bars and dance halls. The Queen of Naples wields absolute power. The Duke of Milan, Prospero, with his daughter Miranda were banished to a far island, and when his betrayers are shipwrecked he hatches a plot to exact revenge. With intrigue, sexual tension, treason, love and jazz - this is Shakespeare at his best!

The Tempest inspires Danny Boyle's opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, providing the theme of the "Isles of Wonder", from Caliban's speech: Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises.

In a thrilling new collaboration, Network Theatre is working with:

• Kipper Tie Theatre, the company that brought A Long Night in London to the Network Theatre, with
• Lion’s Mane Theatre Arts Ltd, which took The Stage Company’s successful run of Facades, which had premiered at Network Theatre, to Riverside Studios, and most importantly with
• The Royal Shakespeare Company, under its Openstages initiative.

In a new approach to Shakespeare’s classic, our production is an abridged version by Bernie C. Byrnes and features a fabulous jazz score, dance and physical theatre.

"O brave new world, that has such people in it!

"Such stuff as dreams are made on"

"Please you, draw near."

See the video trailers on Network Theatre's YouTube Channel

2012 is the 400th anniversary of The Tempest's first public performance in February 1612 at the Blackfriars Theatre in London. (King James I had been treated to private performance at Whitehall the previous November.) Later in 1612, The Tempest transferred to The Globe for its summer run. It continued until The Globe was destroyed by fire in June 1613.

Follow The Tempest on Facebook

And why not come to our other Shakespeare for 2012, Henry V.

Resources:

• Press Release #1 (PDF)
• Press Release #2 (PDF)
• A3 Poster (PDF)
• A5 Flyer (JPG)
• Education Pack (PDF)
• Programme (PDF)
• Sardines Review