Exploring Shakespeare

The Tempest - Act 1 Scene 2

Miranda (Mariah Gale) challenges her father Prospero (Patrick Stewart) and he reveals more about her background.

The Tempest - Act 2 Scene 2

Stephano (Joseph Alessi) encounters Trinculo (Craig Gazey) sheltering from the storm with Caliban (John Light).

Performance photo gallery

Explore Rupert Goold's 2006 RSC production set in the Arctic from the storm and shipwreck to the wedding masque and the final resolution.

Rehearsal photo gallery

Join The Tempest company behind the scenes in rehearsal.

Design photo gallery

View set designer Giles Cadle's model box and sketches by costume designer Nicky Gillibrand.

Director interview (Steve Marmion)

Steve, the assistant director, discusses interpretive choices made in this production including magic, music and the unusual setting.

Teachers' notes [PDF 560K]

Activities for teaching Much Ado, based on RSC rehearsal room practice. (You need PDF reader software.)

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The Tempest is often set on a tropical island - what happened here?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

There are details in the text that don't fit with an Arctic setting - "snare the nimble marmoset" for example. How did you deal with these?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

What decisions did you make about magic in this production?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

This production does not represent Ariel as the good servant and Caliban as the bad servant. Is it more complicated than that?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Does Ariel delight in causing mischief, like Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

What ideas informed your decisions about Caliban?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Prospero suggests that Caliban tried to rape Miranda. Did you explore this backstory?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Prospero has been played as a younger or an older man - how did having an older Prospero affect the decisions you made?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Patrick Stewart is also playing Antony in Antony and Cleopatra this season. Did you sense Patrick making links between these two characters?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Some people think that Prospero's epilogue is Shakespeare 'signing off'. How do you interpret that speech?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Did you explore the relationship between Prospero and his brother Antonio in rehearsals?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

Do you think you have lessened the importance of Prospero's books in this production?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

What problems did setting the play in the Arctic present for the designer [Giles Cadle]?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

Describe the music for this production and the instruments you use.

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

What led to your interpretation that Prospero is able to hypnotise people?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

Civilisation could be considered to be a theme in The Tempest. Have you referred to this?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

Describe Ariel's appearance and movement in your production.

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

Some people think the Miranda/Ferdinand story is dull compared to the rest of the play. What did you do with their story?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date: 2006-08-07

These clips are taken from a recording of the Creative Team Talk public event on 7 August 2006 in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Interview by Jonathan Bate.

Download: transcript [PDF]