The Tempest Ladies
The Tempest
The Tempest Ladies were formed in London during a semester abroad studying at the Globe Theater. The women wanted to continue working on Shakespeare in order to make it accessible to the average every day person. The company focuses on self-sufficient theatre, simplicity in art and the transportability of theatre.
An ensemble consisting of six young females brings a new spin to The Tempest. Creative and simple, this magical production uses tribal storytelling, found objects, and even an audience member or two to recreate Shakespeare's tale of self-actualization and forgiveness
Performances:
9th - 14th August
Price:
£5.00 »
Hugely inventive and wonderful
The Tempest, 9 - 14 August, 6.15 - 7.45pm
When I arrived in the theatre for the opening night of The Tempest, I was unsure whether the show had actually started. Five young women, clad in blue leotards and black leggings, were on stage swaying from foot to foot as if on board ship; bursts of piercing song erupted from one of them, while the others contributed with short exchanges and comic gestures. I noticed that some of them were wearing hats: crucial elements in what turned out to be a hugely inventive and wonderfully realised hour and a half of theatre.
After this prelude the play itself began, and I was immediately impressed by the way the cast handled the verse. Shakespeare's words came over with crystal clarity, and as the story unfolded I became enthralled in the narrative. The sheer energy of the performers was remarkable: the cast members swapped parts throughout so that by the end of the play each had probably played every single character, meaning that what time they had off-stage was extremely limited. Here the hats revealed their true purpose: I never had a moment's doubt as to who was who, since each character was identified by a specific piece of headgear, which was whisked from head to head as the roles changed.
This production of The Tempest has strong elements of physical theatre: as Prospero explained at the outset to his daughter Miranda how they came to be living on a remote island inhabited by spirits, the rest of the cast brought his account to life through mime. These sequences and others that followed were beautifully choreographed and impeccably performed, the actors never missing a beat and remaining perfectly synchronised with each other. The percussion instruments that the cast played from the sides of the stage also added a great deal to the atmosphere.
Even if you think Shakespeare isn't for you, I urge you to see this production. This company is bringing new life to the Bard, infusing his words with passion, energy and exuberant talent. You'll rarely see such a funny production of The Tempest, either. And if you're lucky, you might even get to wear one of the hats.
Emma Norminton
The Tempest, 9 - 14 August, 6.15 - 7.45pm