Full casting announced for The Tempest
Full casting is announced today for the RSC’s forthcoming production of The Tempest, which opens in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in November 2016 to conclude Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary year.
This production of Shakespeare’s late play, in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios, has been in development since September 2015, and aims to break new boundaries in theatre-making with the very first live motion capture performance appearing in a major classical stage production.
As previously announced, Gregory Doran directs the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Prospero, as he returns to the Company for the first time in over 20 years. Mark Quartley plays Ariel, and will be taking on a whole new area of stage craft by wearing a motion capture suit, live on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage. This allows the movements of his ‘avatar’ Ariel to be projected on and around the stage, including flying and morphing into different versions of the spirit through the power of Intel technology.
Mark’s previous theatre work includes Written on the Heart and Measure for Measure (RSC 2011/12), Private Peaceful (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios), Ghosts (Rose theatre, Kingston) and a regular role in the television comedy Hoff the Record.
He is joined by RSC Associate Artist Joe Dixon who returns to the company to play Caliban.
Other cast includes Alison Arnopp (Spirit), Laura Cairns (Spirit), Elly Condron (Iris), Daniel Easton (Ferdinand), Caleb Frederick (Spirit), Samantha Hay (Soprano including onstage Goddess) Sarah Kameela Impey (Spirit), Tony Jayawardena (Stephano), Matthew McPherson (Francisco), Joseph Mydell (Gonzalo), Oscar Pearce (Antonio), Jenny Rainsford (Miranda), Darren Raymond (Boatswain), Joe Shire (Master of the Ship), Oliver Towse (Adrian), Simon Trinder (Trinculo), James Tucker (Alonso), Tom Turner (Sebastian), Jennifer Witton (Soprano including onstage Goddess).
The production is designed by RSC Director of Design Stephen Brimson Lewis, with Digital Character Creation by The Imaginarium Studios, Video by Finn Ross and Lighting by Simon Spencer. Music is composed by Paul Englishby with Sound by Jeremy Dunn and Andrew Franks and Movement by Lucy Cullingford.
Conduct the Storm
To accompany this production the RSC presents Conduct the Storm, a free interactive installation in the front of house space of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Conduct the Storm is created by digital creative agency Flying Object, and inspired by the violent storm which causes the shipwreck at the start of The Tempest.
On Level 2 in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, users will be able to whip up and control a storm with hand gestures. Tom Pursey of Flying Object said the installation will create an “unexpected and powerful experience” for audiences. The idea for the installation came from “exploring the technology and understanding the connection between hand movements and on-screen effects. That was then cross-referenced against the production, while trying to do something that the production wouldn't by putting the control of nature's forces into the hands of the audience and thus bringing viewers into the world of the play in a new way.”
Audiences can come and conduct the storm on Level 2 of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 8 November 2016 – 21 January 2017
Conduct the Storm has been created by Flying Object, commissioned by the RSC in collaboration with Intel, and will integrate Intel technology to help create an intuitive and immersive experience.
Prospero’s Cell
Prospero’s Cell is an exhibition in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s PACCAR Room inspired by The Tempest. Created by Flying Object, This creative take on the island from the play sees Prospero’s magical powers re-imagined as modern wizardry. The exhibition space becomes his cave from which he surveys people and controls the remote island.
Tom Pursey, of Flying Object says: “The Cell will be an unusual exhibition - you'll step into the Cell itself as if Prospero and Miranda have just left, and rummage around what you find there.”
The Tempest
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Gregory Doran
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 8 November 2016 – 21 January 2017
Press night: Thursday 17 November, 7pm
Live from Stratford-upon-Avon screening: Wednesday 11 January, 7pm
Booking: 01789 403493 or www.rsc.org.uk
For further information, please contact Philippa.harland@rsc.org.uk 0207 845 0512
Notes to Editors
Tickets: www.rsc.org.uk or 01789 403493
Cinema listings https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/in-cinemas/?from=ql
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION
The BP £5 ticket scheme and BP Shakespeare Pass for 16 – 25 year olds gives access to £5 tickets for all RSC productions in Stratford-upon-Avon, London or on tour. Tickets can be booked in advance on the phone, online or in person with some availability for sale on the day of the performance
The Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. We produce an inspirational artistic programme each year, setting Shakespeare in context, alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers.
Everyone at the RSC - from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians - plays a part in creating the world you see on stage. All our productions begin life at our Stratford workshops and theatres and we bring them to the widest possible audience through our touring, residencies, live broadcasts and online activity. So wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work made in Shakespeare’s home town.
We have trained generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future. We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre. We reach 530,000 children and young people annually through our education work, transforming their experiences in the classroom, in performance and online.
About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) makes the most amazing experiences of the future possible. Intel's innovations expand the reach and power of computing in personal devices and enterprise servers, the Cloud, make the Internet of Things smart and connected, and help ensure the security of our digital lives. The work of the company’s more than 100,000 employees transforms businesses, propels new discoveries and improves human experiences. More information about Intel is at newsroom.intel.com or intel.com.
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About The Imaginarium
The Imaginarium Studios is one of Britain’s leading production companies and performance capture studios.
Using techniques and technologies from the world of performance capture, The Imaginarium production portfolio spans film, television, video games and digital applications.
Founded in 2011 by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish, and based in London’s Ealing Studios, the company both develops and produces its own films, television projects and interactive material as well supplying their facilities and services on a consultancy basis.
Fungus The Bogeyman is The Imaginarium’s first production for television. Previous film credits include Dawn of the Planet of The Apes and Rise of the Planet of Apes, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens.
The Imaginarium also recently helped to create the music video for Coldplay's The Adventure of A Lifetime.