The Tempest
Dates of performance
FROM 21 JANUARY 1994
Synopsis
Usurped of his dukedom by his convincing brother Antonio, Prospero and his only daughter Miranda are the sole human inhabitants of an enchanted island.Here Prospero practices his magic – his ‘art’ –aided by a host of spirits of which the mischievous Ariel is the Chief, and Caliban, a wretched and deformed creature (the son of a witch) who, on account of his bad nature, is employed as a slave.
The play begins on board a ship during a violent storm – the “tempest’ of the title. This, we discover, has been engineered by Prospero who over the elements and according to plan the King of Naples and his court, which includes his son Ferdinand and Prospero’s brother Antonio are cast ashore on the island; for Prospero is bent on reclaiming his dukedom, spurred on by bitterness towards hr brother Antonio and Alonso, the King, who was instrumental in his own overthrow.
Prospero is determined that the devil-doers should be made to repent their crime.
With the help of Ariel (who is capable of several disguises including invisibility) Prospero proceeds with his scheme, during the course of which Alonso and his court, including his foolish jester Trinculo and drunken butler Stephano, are confronted with their folly. In the end, Miranda and Ferdinand are united, Alonso and his son (each presuming the other to have drowned) are re-united, and the ends of justice are served. Ariel receives his magic powers in a speech which is sometimes taken as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage. The play abounds in mysticism and magic and contains some of the finest lyrical passages in Shakespeare.
Cast List
| ALONSO | King of Naples | BLAISE KOCH |
| SEBASTIAN | Alonso’s brother | DALE ABRAHMS |
| PROSPERO | Rightful Duke of Naples | RALPH LAWSON |
| ANTONIO | Prospero’s brother | ANTHONY BISHOP |
| FERDINAND | Prince of Naples | GAVIN HOOD |
| GONZALO | Councilor | JAY HEALE |
| ADRIAN | Lord attending to Alonso | FRANK DE GOUVEIA |
| FRANCISCO | Lord attending to Alonso | ANDRE SAMUELS |
| CALIBAN | Slave | NKOSINATHI GQOTSO |
| TRICULO | Jester | IVAN ABRAHAMS |
| STEPHANO | Drunken butler | RONALD FRANCE |
| MIRANDA | Daughter to Prospero | JANA VAN NIEKERK |
| BOATSWAIN | MORNE VISSER | |
| ARIEL / CERES | Airy spirit /Goddess | STEVEN STEAD |
| SHIPMASTER / SPIRIT | DIEDRE WOLHUNTER | |
| JUNO / SPIRIT | XOLA LUSE | |
| SPIRIT | ZOLISWA KAWE |
Creative List
| STAGE DIRECTOR | PATRICK CURTIS |
| STAGE MANAGER | LORRAINE BELLAMY |
| ASSISTSANT STAGE MANAGER | PAUL SMITH |
| PROPS | LOUWRENS FOURIE |
| LIGHTING OPERATOR | HOWARD SIMMS |
| SOUND OPERATOR | BRANDON BUNYAN |
| WARDROBE CO-ORDINATOR | JULIE-ANN TINDILL |
| WIGMASTER | LAURENCE HUCKSTEP |
| POSTER DESIGN | PIET GROBLER |
| PHOTOGRAPHERS | PHILIP DE VOS & ANTON GELDENHUYS |
| F.O.H. MANAGER | ROLAND PEAD |
