RSC’s First Encounters The Tempest, performed at York Theatre Royal.
We’ve seen Shakespeare done hundreds of times and in hundreds of ways. As such, there’s a greater pressure on ensuring Shakespeare remains relevant to new audiences. With this in mind, I was intrigued to see the RSC’s latest production of The Tempest, marketed as ‘an ideal first experience of Shakespeare for anyone aged eight and above’ on a national tour.
As a refresher, The Tempest follows the exiled Duke Prospero (Darren Raymond) who uses magic to crash his brother’s ship on his island. He conjures up the spirit Ariel (Sarah Kameela Impey) to aid him in his efforts, and we see the inhabitants of the island collide and rekindle their relationships, and resolve past quarrels, through the strength of love and reconciliation.
This production of The Tempest speeds along at just over 90 minutes. With only a few pieces of furniture doubling as storage and a rack of bones standing at the back, there’s no room for distraction and we’re actively encouraged to engage with the performers throughout. There’s something pleasantly refreshing about how everything’s presented, and the company make easy work of turning the York Theatre Royal’s main house stage into an intimate evening of storytelling.
There’s greater focus on the physicalities of the performers, too, as they present Shakespeare’s characters in a grander manner than usual. The scales are perfectly balanced to keep the performance light and varied enough to engage the inevitably large range of ages in the audience. The childlike energy that pulsates amongst the ensemble of performers casts an aura of authenticity and magic all of its own, and this helps to create a truly warm and welcoming atmosphere.
In stripping everything back to basics, director Aileen Gonsalves has crafted a short, bright and entertaining piece of theatre that doesn’t take itself too seriously or undermine the intelligence of its audience. There’s enough here to keep younger audience members entertained, without overwhelming them with a mammoth number of soliloquies and complex internal character conflicts.
Yet there’s also enough here for adults to engage with in a fresh, simple staging that reminds them of how uncomplicated theatre can be. This production proves that all it takes to engage an audience is a solid directorial vision and purpose in mind, married with strong performances. There’s a engaging mix of audience interaction and acknowledgement throughout, and an ever-present sense of well-established complicity between viewer and performer, evoking a sense of nostalgia of past Shakespearean productions.
As I left the theatre, I felt incredibly satisfied by the charming scenography and fun, playful performances. This really is an ideal introduction to Shakespeare for those not versed in the writer’s work – but it also serves as a reminder of how simple storytelling can still triumph in today’s shifting, dynamic theatrical landscape. This new production of The Tempest is playful and creative in its approach, and makes for a fun and varied evening no matter what your age.
The Tempest was on at York Theatre Royal. Click here for more details.
