We take a look at what is being said about Richard Eyre’s production, playing until the 20th June.
The Guardian: “But as Branagh slows down too, the production takes on deeper, more plaintive shades and you feel the emotional hit when Prospero declares that the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance. Caliban is wordlessly habilitated back into his rightful role as ruler of the island in this ending and it gives power to Prospero’s transformation. You feel the magician becoming more human and humane; abjuring tyranny as liberating for the oppressor as it is for the oppressed.”
WhatsOnStage: “And spectacle is the word. Eyre has elected to lean into the visual grandeur of Shakespeare’s last complete solo play, with its masques, magic and monsters peopling an undiscovered island, helping to ease the understanding of this famously obscure text with clear storytelling and a brisk hour-each-way running time. Set designer Bob Crowley aids this feat considerably, with a simple staging centred on a large tilting disk and supplemented by sumptuous video projections by Akhila Krishnan.”
The Telegraph: “More than 30 years after his last Stratford appearance, Branagh makes a commanding homecoming as a seductive yet sinister Prospero.”
The Arts Desk: ” Though not a definitive Tempest by any means, it’s all beautifully done, spectacular and moving and with an undertow of the central question of middle to old age nagging continually. As our own powers fade, how and what do we do to protect our own psychological and physical wellbeing, while handing our home on to the next generation?”
All That Dazzles: “Noticeable as they are, the colonial reflections are something of a subplot, however. Primarily, this is still a play of magic, power, and revenge. And magical it is, in a dazzling visual spectacle of light and projections. From their very first moments, Akhila Krishnan’s projections illuminate the set with painting-like tableaus, dancing with Hugh Vanstone’s lighting to form some gorgeous effects. It’s all paired with Akintayo Akinbode and Stephen Warbeck’s score, played by a live band in the circle in a mix of folky guitars and guembris and percussive drums.”
British Theatre Guide: “It was the hottest night of the year, and as we wandered out of the theatre, clouds on the horizon, there seemed electricity in the air. A shame there was little inside.”
WhatsOnLive: “With nearly 60 years of experience, director Sir Richard Eyre, making his RSC debut and earning a curtain call at the tender age of 83, sagely describes Shakespeare’s final play as a meditation on ‘art, power and freedom’. His production arguably reflects all those elements, while supernatural activity, compassion, forgiveness and ultimately redemption, are all themes to look out for in a play that might not be Shakespeare’s best but still has the power to cast a spell.”
West End Best Friend: “At its best, this production of The Tempest is an astonishing spectacle. The use of music and song elevates the material beautifully, helping to draw the audience into the strange and dreamlike world of the island whilst offering moments of real emotion and escapism. Visually, the production rarely stops moving, with flying spirits, shifting sets and dramatic lighting constantly giving the audience something to marvel at. Yet underneath all of this spectacle lies a story that perhaps is not one of Shakespeare’s strongest.”
Theatre & Tonic: “The cast is doing a fine job, and their collective comedic output is a real saving grace. Ruby Stokes brings a wonderful innocence to Miranda that feels less naïve or childish, but more confident in exploring the new adult world she discovers. Fred Woodley Evans is similarly lovely as Ferdinand, pairing with Stokes’ Miranda to create a tender pairing that will have more seasoned members of the audience reminiscing on their own first loves. Keir Charles as Trinculo and Guy Henry as Stephano are a hilarious double act, and when joined by Ashley Zhangazha as Caliban, the trio provides an abundance of laughs to breathe some needed life into the story.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-tempest