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BrumHour saw The Tempest at the invite of The RSC.
By Dave Massey
The Tempest at The RSC, Royal Shakespeare Theatre: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐”A spellbinding production”
Directed by Richard Eyre
Prospero (Kenneth Branagh) and his daughter Miranda (Ruby Stokes) have been living on an island for some years, with only Caliban (Ashley Zhangazha) seemingly on the island as a servant. Prospero also has a spirit called Ariel (Amara Okereke) to do his bidding. One day, Ferdinand (Fred Woodley Evans) appears on the island, and Miranda discovers love.
Compared to lots of Shakespeare, this is a short play at just two hours and ten minutes (including interval). The three-sided set features a raised circle and projection across the rear of the theatre to conjour all its landscapes, from beaches to woods and the night sky. Costumes are mainly quite formal with hints of whimsy, and the production feels quite traditional compared to plenty of others I’ve seen at The RSC.
The style of the story seems crowd-pleasing much more than other Shakespeare plays. There are far fewer elements to challenge the audience. This tone brings a warmth to the production.
Kenneth Branagh is a joy to watch, and the matinee audience around me was certainly enchanted by his magician/conductor character style. Amara Okereke is particularly memorable as Ariel gliding and swinging from the rafters across the stage with skill and ease. The vocals are playful and have a choral quality, making the space feel larger than it already is.
A spellbinding production, The Tempest is at The RSC, Royal Shakespeare Theatre until 20th June 2026. Book tickets here: rsc.org.uk/the-tempest.
