“We Are Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On, and Our Little Life is Rounded With a Sleep.” – The Tempest, Barbican Theatre, London. 29.07.2017
It was a Saturday; Graham was out fishing for the weekend so it was up to me as to what I wanted to do. I was pondering it all week with the idea that I had, unsure if it was going to be the right choice…oh it was!
I got up early to head out for a day in London by myself; with nothing booked it was time to take my chances with a first experience of day seating. It ended up being a very successful first time, with grabbing £20 front row day seats for the evening performance of Half A Sixpence. Now, you may be thinking I went up for the day? Why not the matinee? Well on route on the train I tried my chances at some rush tickets from TodayTix App, that were available for a play that I was very intrigued on seeing. So at 10.00am when the tickets were released, I successfully bagged a £10 ticket to the matinee’s performance at 13.30 and I couldn’t have been more excited!
I had stumbled upon an Intel advert for this production by chance on Facebook. Intel 
had come together with the Royal Shakespeare Company to create a brand new production and take of one of William Shakespeare’s famous plays. Incorporating technology and the arts in a fantastic, spell binding way that led to being my favourite William Shakespeare performance I have ever seen!
Travelling to the Barbican Theatre, it would be the third time being at this Centre the last being when I saw Hamlet. I took my seat in Row A seat 11, front row. It was a little in the round so I was to the side a little, but the stage is quite far forward which meant my neck wasn’t constantly looking up. I could see all that was going on, and at times up close and personal. Couldn’t complain about the leg room also! For the price I was very happy!
The Tempest, is said to be one of the last plays that William Shakespeare wrote by himself. It tells the tale of Prospero, the Duke of Milan, who twelve years ago was unsupred by his own brother Antonio. Supported by Alonso, King of Naples, and his brother Sebastian, Prospero and his baby daughter Miranda were put to sea. They both took shelter on a distant island which was ruled by the witch Sycorax, but now inhabited only by her son, Caliban, and spirit Ariel. Prospero saved Ariel from a tree to which he was trapped in by Sycorax, due to this he is now Prospero’s ‘slave’ he obeys all of Prospero’s demands (whom is the only one who can see him) as he rules the island by the use of magic arts derived from his studies.
When sensing his enemies are close to the island Prospero sees the opportunity for revenge, and with the use of his powers draws up a storm which causes him to shipwreck upon the island. Separated from the other ship wreckers, the Kings son, Ferdinand, is led to Prospero’s cell by Ariel. He meets Miranda (whom has grown up never seeing know other human being) and instantly fall in love. But is love is tested through Prospero’s hidden tasks. The King of Naples searches for his son, in fear that he has drowned. His Brother on the other hand plots to kill him, and seize the crown along with Prospero’s brother Antonio. On the other side of the island, the drunken butler, Stephano, and the Jester, Trinculo, encounter Caliban. They are persuaded by him to kill Propero so they can rule the island.
Happy with how Ferdinand has met all of his challenges, Prospero in the end blesses his marriage to Miranda with a betrothal masque. He is distracted from this, however, when he discovers Calibans’ plot…
I had seen this play performed before when I was in my teens, viewing it now at my age it was oh so much better. I had a clear understanding of what was happening and the plot, something others can find tricky with Shakespeare’s language. Another thing was I never realized how funny this production was, and throughout the audience were laughing in some brilliant comic moments –especially from Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo scenes. It lightened the story greatly, which made it even more of a joy to watch.
But one thing for sure about this production is how it is told. Collaborating with Hardware Company Intel, and The Imaginarium Studios, this production is brought to life through the power of technology. Similar to films such as Avatar, King Kong, and Planet of the Apes, the Royal Shakespeare Company is the first to bring ‘live motion capture’ to live theatre. This is mainly displayed through the character of Ariel, whose costume is 
that of body suit with sensors that enable all his movements to be projected in real-time. Portrayed around the set which displayed the skeleton of a shipwrecked boat, at times the projections were performed alongside Ariel when on the same, which at times worked well. However one scene where he was stage left on the wreckage with a helmet with a light shining onto his face to help portray his face onto the Avatar on the stage, it just felt out of place and this time it would have been better if he had done this off screen. But that’s not to say it wasn’t good, as watching Ariel was mesmerizing throughout, which brilliant body movement, and physicality. One thing I also noticed, that although the role of Ariel was performed by a male actor, on the screen the avatar displayed that of woman physicality. This is an ongoing theme with the character, it is one that can be portrayed by both female and male actors, stating that Ariel is genderless and I Loved it. With that being said, it was great to see something brand new on stage alongside an amazing company.
The company tonight was on top form for the first performance of the day:
Prospero – Simon Russell Beale
Miranda – Jenny Rainsford
Ariel – Mark Quartley
Caliban – Joe Dixon
Antonio – Jonathan Broadbent
Alonso – James Tucker
Sebastian – Tom Turner
Ferdinand – Daniel Easton
Gonzalo – Joseph Mydell
Adrian – Oliver Towse
Francisco – Matthew McPherson
Trinculo – Simon Trinder
Stephano – James Hayes
Spirits – Alison Arnopp, Laura Cairns, Elly Condron (Iris), Caleb Frederick, Sarah Kameela Impey, Darren Raymond, Joe Shire
Juno – Jennifer Witton
Ceres – Samantha Hay
Comic duo Trinculo, and Stephano played by Simon, and James were a great partnership. Simon in particular was brilliant at playing to the audience, even at times including the audience with a little improv. Them along with Joe Dixon in the role of Caliban, who portrayed the creature greatly with no trouble displaying the emotions he experienced through the slavery of Prospero, to the realization of a chance of freedom with the duo. All three made the audience laugh in each scene they were in.
The King and his men played brilliantly in their roles. Traitor’s Sebastian, and Antonio played by Tom, and Jonathan had their comic moments with their speeches through their deceiving acts. King of Naples, James Tucker a loving desperate father who wants to find his lost sun was without hesitation of showing it, and his son Antonio portrayed by Jonathan Broadbent also, the audience you could see his love shine through for Miranda. That from first glance he would prove himself worthy of being with her – I particular loved the sweet moment with the log!
Miranda, whom was played by Jenny Rainsford I had noticed I had seen her before in the film About Time. She was a good
Miranda with emotions displayed well, though her speech at times during these moments came off wobbly when she spoke, which caused at times some of her lines to be missed. Her father Prospero, Simon Russell Beale was outstanding. Strong, driven, and powerful throughout, he was great to watch and held the audience from the moment he entered, to the last line of his soliloquy.
My favourite thought has to be that of Mark Quartley, who played the role of Ariel. Not only does he have to work around the technology which he did with ease, but his acting and his portrayal of the role was just mesmerizing, from his physical movements to the emotions in his 
speech, I could have watched him forever. He is by far the best Ariel I have seen, he just makes the play complete and I would go back again just to see him perform again. But also keep an eye out for future casting.
I was so happy that I got the chance to see this production; it is with great thanks to TodayTix Rush Tickets for making it happen! If I get the opportunity to see it again, I will not hesitate. It is a brilliatn way to introduce you to the world of Shakespeare, and it was great to see some children in the audience too! The Tempest is playing a limited summer run at the Barbican Theatre until August 18th. For Ticket information go Here. You will not be disappointed, however if you are not able to make it RSC have put the production on DVD, and Blu Ray which you can purchase on Amazon or their website – it may already be in my basket!
