Ladies on top with an all female cast for Tempest

Sea-Change take on Shakespeare’s final play The Tempest from Wednesday to Thursday, September 26 to 27.

Prospero is a single mother from Milan. Deprived of her dukedom she is abandoned by her enemies on an island, where dwells a host of supernatural creatures, including the terrifying, villainous Sycorax, who is intent on absolute power. When Prospero’s usurper draws near the island, a magical storm draws together old enemies and new lovers in a tale of sorcery, spirits and the sea.

The play has been described as a humorous, thought-provoking and gender-bending adaptation for our times, underscored with sea shanties, calypso and contemporary music.

Director Justine Malone said: “I was keen to keep the mystical darkness and sense of voodoo magic at play - but have cut it down to a shorter, more pacey, anarchic series of events.

“I wanted to draw out that sense of the unpredictable, inspired by 80s punk and atmospheric synths (the soundtrack features Siouxsie & The Banshees, Patti Smith and Delia Derbyshire).

“We’ve also played around with some of the sub-plots and brought them in as memories and flashbacks.

“For example, Caliban’s mother, the witch Sycorax, appears – just for a moment – for spectators to experience the moment she was abandoned on the island as a new mother, just as Prospero was with Miranda some years later.”

She also stated that a very different relationship can be portrayed in the show.

Justine added: “The central love story also has the twist of being a lesbian relationship. I don’t think Ferdinand would have necessarily been able to come out in the world of aristocracy back at home. But on the island, there are no rules, restrictions or boundaries – so long as Prospero is on your side. This is something new and different for Chipping Norton. But I think fans of traditional Shakespeare will enjoy it as much as those who are new to his work.”

Visit www.chippingnortontheatre.com to book tickets.