RSC Tempest heads for North-East schools

THE Royal Shakespeare Company continues its commitment to creating live theatre for young audiences with its First Encounters with Shakespeare production of The Tempest – Shakespeare’s magical last play of fun, fantasy and sorcery.

The production will visit Archibald Primary School, in Middlesbrough, on March 7; St Michael’s RC Primary School, Newcastle on March 8 and Sacred Heart Catholic High School, Newcastle, on March 9 and 10. There will be schools and public performances in all three schools.

All three schools are either part of the RSC’s Associate Schools programme, or its former incarnation, the Learning and Performance Network (LPN), the aim of both being to assist young people to take ownership of the work of Shakespeare.

The Tempest tells the story of the exiled Duke, Prospero, who, on a crazy island swirling with sounds, uses magic to create a home within the wilderness. As his beloved daughter Miranda falls in love with a shipwrecked stranger from their homeland, she rebels against Prospero’s power, and he must risk forgiving those who betrayed him, or lose her forever. Aimed at anyone aged eight and above, and using Shakespeare’s original language, this edited version lasts 90 minutes, and includes an interactive introduction to the world of the play.

Directed by Aileen Gonsalves, the cast includes: Alison Arnopp (Stephana/Sebastienne), Laura Cairns (Trincula/Alonsa), Elly Condron (Miranda), Caleb Frederick (Antonio), Sarah Kameela Impey (Ariel), Matthew McPherson (Caliban), Darren Raymond (Prospero) and Oliver Towse (Ferdinand).

Middlesbrough: 2pm (schools performance), 6pm (public performance, tickets 01642-804101); St Michael’s, Newcastle, 1.15pm (schools performance), 6pm (public performance, 0191-273-9383 and admin@stmichaels.newcastle.sch.uk); Sacred Heart, Newcastle

1.30pm (schools performance, Fri at 1.15pm), 6pm (public 0191-274-7373).

Viv Hardwick