SPELLBINDING Shakespeare play The Tempest is being staged at King’s Ely in June.
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men are bringing the hugely popular open-air production to the picturesque gardens of King’s Ely’s Old Palace on the evening of Wednesday, June 6th – and tickets are selling fast!
A play of soaring poetry, high comedy and tender love, and widely believed to be the last full play that Shakespeare wrote alone, The Tempest examines the power of true love, our capacity for vengeance and what it takes to forgive. A play that has mesmerised and moved audiences for over 400 years is just as relevant and powerful today.
Prospero, the usurped Duke of Milan, and his daughter, Miranda, after being cast out from their home, are washed up on a distant, mystical island. 12 years later his enemies are blown off course towards them. Using his powers of magic, he raises a tempest to shipwreck them on the island. After being left to plot his revenge for years he finally has the chance to exact it. But will he?
Artistic Director, Peter Stickney, said: “With some of Shakespeare’s most memorable speeches and packed with famous characters – from the elemental and ethereal Caliban and Ariel to the comic clowns Trinculo and Stephano and the enchanting force that unites them all, Prospero – The Tempest is a spectacular play and will make fantastic viewing for a summer’s evening. A truly theatrical play like this, set outdoors and in our trademark style bursting with song and magic makes for an evening not to be missed!”
Founded in 2004, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men are the modern incarnation of Shakespeare’s original company of the same name. Performing with an all-male cast, they present authentic and magical productions of Shakespeare’s finest plays bringing to vivid and accessible life the greatest works of drama, as they would first have been performed. Peter Stickney took over the company as Artistic Director and Chief Executive in 2016.
The show is being premiered at the prestigious Brighton Festival, before heading off on a tour around the UK that takes in the most significant and visually stunning castles, cathedrals and stately homes, finishing their tour in mainland Europe in September.
With audiences encouraged to bring picnics, a chair or a blanket, and a glass of something chilled, this show promises to be another authentic, excellent and magical treat from the company that brought you last year’s riotous farce, The Comedy of Errors.
The production starts at 7.30pm, although gates open at 6.30pm to allow people to set up their picnics etc.
Tickets are £15 for adults and £10 for children. To book your tickets, please call (01353) 653931 or visit www.kingsely.org/boxoffice