Sam Mendes production 1993

Act 1 Scene 2

Prospero Of whence I am, nor that I am more better / Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,

Prospero (Alec McCowan) in his magic cloak.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 1 Scene 2

Prospero Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and she said thou wast my daughter.

Prospero (Alec McCowan) tells Miranda (Sarah Woodward) about her background.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 1 Scene 2

Ariel All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come / To answer thy best pleasure

Ariel (Simon Russell Beale) enters for the first time.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 1 Scene 2

Prospero Dost thou forget from what a torment I did free thee?

Prospero (Alec McCowan) talks with Ariel (Simon Russell Beale) and reminds him of the past.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 1 Scene 2

Prospero Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!

Prospero (Alec McCowan) summons Caliban (David Troughton). In this production, Caliban emerges from a basket.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 1 Scene 2

Prospero For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up

Prospero (Alec McCowan) promises to punish the insubordinate Caliban (David Troughton).

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 1 Scene 2

Caliban O ho, O ho! would't had been done!
Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else
This isle with Calibans.

Prospero (Alec McCowan) reminds Caliban (David Troughton) that he was prevented from attacking Miranda (Sarah Woodward).

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 2 Scene 1

Gonzalo How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!

Ariel (Simon Russell Beale, background left) watches Gonzalo (Clifford Rose), Francisco (Richard Clothier), Alonso (Paul Greenwood) and Adrian (David Birrell) as they discuss the environment of the island.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 2 Scene 1

Antonio ... spirits are nimble. / They fell together all, as by consent...
... me thinks I see it in thy face,
What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and
My strong imagination sees a crown
Dropping upon thy head.

Antonio (James Hayes) and Sebastian (Christopher Hunter) plot to kill Alonso (Paul Greenwood) who lies asleep on the floor.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 2 Scene 2

Stephano Open your mouth: this will shake your shaking, I can tell you.

Stephano (Mark Lockyer) arrives drunk and feeds Caliban (David Troughton) some alcohol.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC

Act 2 Scene 2

Caliban I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island;
And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.

Stephano (Mark Lockyer) and Trinculo (David Bradley) have fed Caliban (David Troughton) with alcohol, Caliban excitedly promises to show them the island.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC