Press Release The Tempest

PRESS RELEASE

Stage2’s The Tempest

Wed 17th –Sat 20th April 2013 7.30 (+ Sat 2pm)

at The Crescent Theatre, Brindleyplace, Birmingham

After the success of Stage2’s last show, the devised Alice’s Adventures in Www.Land, Birmingham’s busiest youth theatre is now taking on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a classic tale that will delight all ages.
An endless source of mystery and fascination to audiences, actors, students, poets, philosophers alike, The Tempest has been performed in more different ways and genres than any other work in the canon, if not the world. It is ideal for ‘Stage2 style’ plot twists and changes of characters’ sex, making it not only a perfect first play, but an inspiring production for those studying the text (as it will inspire discussion and debate). Is it a pantomime, a fairy tale, a love story, an adventure, an allegory, a moral tale, or actually an elaborate game of chess? How much do we see mystical magic and how much skilled illusion? Is Prospero an Icarus or a Faustus? Who has the upper hand in this ‘brave new world’ - the native islanders or the educated voyagers? Where are our sympathies and do we know why? Physical action, slapstick routines, elegance, earthiness, deep sadness and conniving manipulation morph the story and drive the characters through a maze of increasing complexity, clashing fantasy and reality.

In our version, Prospero is female, a widow who turns to the ‘liberal arts’ of natural remedies, hypnotism and astrology to distract her in her grief. Antonia, her sister, plays on this distraction and furthers her own advancement; first with help from Alonso, King of Naples, to become a Duchess - later plotting with Sebastian to be his Queen. Echoes of a game of chess…..? Sebastian, the bitter and bolshy illegitimate brother, is (eventually and literally) roused to take action. There is no magic – everything is trickery and illusions - performed by ‘smoke and mirror effects’, cloths on pulleys, hypnotic trances.  All characters are human (though not all humane.)
Stage2 youth theatre has a long established history of presenting clear, accessible (and 5 star) Shakespearian productions with dynamic casts of over 100 young people, and this show will be no exception.
‘A team of talent, sublimely declining to put a foot wrong…. a first night standing ovation, then yet again Stage2 sent its audience home in grateful and heady disbelief, although old hands among the patrons know that this happens every time.’ Behind the Arras. After last year’s deep and dark Romeo and Juliet, here is a comic and colourful show that all ages will enjoy (at least once the storm has settled….!)
Tickets are £9         Box office: 0121 643 5868         Online: www.crescent-theatre.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE ENDS

For further information please contact us via 07961 018841 or info@stage2.org
or visit www.stage2.org or stage2news.blogspot.co.uk   or  @Stage2YT