The Tempest at Norwich Cathedral

I was back at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday 12th July 2012 for the GB Theatre Company performance of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Once again we were entertained by the peregrine falcons flying overhead on another exciting evening at the Cathedral's 2012 Shakespeare Festival.

Prospero, (who is both the Duke of Milan and a magician), was usurped by his brother Antonio 12 years ago, helped by Alonso the King of Naples, and the King’s brother Sebastian. Prospero was then put to sea with his baby daughter Miranda, after being given some aid by faithful Lord, Gonzalo, who remained in service to the new Duke, Antonio.

Prospero and Miranda land on a distant island and by the time the play begins, Prospero has been ruling it by using his magic art for the previous 12 years.

Already living on the island were Ariel, an aery spirit, trapped in a tree by dead witch Sycorax until Prospero rescued him, and the savage Caliban, son of Sycorax. He was a free servant until he tried to rape Miranda. Now he is Prospero’s slave and naturally he resents his bondage.

Prospero uses his magic and the help of Ariel to raise a storm, (the tempest), when he divines his enemies to passing by the island by ship as they return from the wedding of King Alonso’s daughter. King Alonso, his son Ferdinand, Antonio, Sebastian, Gonzalo, Stephano and Trinculo are all shipwrecked onto the island.

Alonso and Ferdinand are separated in the wreck and Alonso searches for his son who he fears is drowned. Encouraged by Antonio, Sebastian is urged to plot against his brother, King Alonso, to seize the crown.

A drunken butler Stephano and a jester Trinculo meet the half-man/half-beast Caliban who persuades them that they should kill Prospero and rule the island. Ferdinand is lured by Ariel’s music to meet Miranda and they fall instantly in love. Prospero tests Ferdinand by enslaving him to make sure that his feelings for his daughter Miranda are real and true. Eventually satisfied, he presents the young couple with a betrothal masque.

Drawing his enemies into his circle, Prospero finally confronts and forgives them. Having done this he can drown his books of magic, pardon Caliban, break his magical staff, set Ariel free and leave the island for Milan where he will resume his rule as Duke.

This production of The Tempest was directed by Jack Shepherd who became more widely known for his performance as Wycliffe in the nineties. This performance delighted with Daniel Dingsdale as Ariel and Sarah Middleton as Miranda. I enjoyed my two evenings at the 2012 Shakespeare Festival and I was very impressed with the shows that the GB Theatre Company put on, which gave great entertainment to those in attendance.

The Taming of the Shrew at Norwich Cathedral

On the evening of Wednesday 11th July 2012 I attended the GB Theatre Company performance of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew at Norwich Cathedral as part of their Shakespeare Festival 2012. This was an open air theatre production in the cathedral cloister. Their were dark clouds and peregrine falcons flying overhead but no rain on the night.

A tinker, Christopher Sly passes out drunk and is thrown out of the local tavern. A local Lord takes him to his house and decides to play a practical joke on him. He and his household convince Sly that he is in fact the Lord of the house. They inform him that a group of players have arrived to perform The Taming of the Shrew for him. This then becomes not only the play presented to Sly but also the main play presented to the audience.

Hortensio who seeks his fortune, the rich and elderly Gremio and the romantic Lucentio all arrive at the house of Baptista to woo his beautiful daughter Bianca. However, Baptista insists that Bianca cannot be wed until his older daughter, the shrewish Katherine is married, but with her violent temper and reputation for shrewishness who will marry her?

Meanwhile Lucentio has gained the upper hand with Bianca. His servant Tranio convinces a travelling school teacher to pretend to be Lucentio’s father, Vincentio. Baptista wants to meet Vincentio to discuss details of the marriage. When the real Vincentio turns up there is great confusion, but eventually the match of Lucentio and Bianca is settled.

In the meantime, Hortensio has found a wealthy widow to wed. Petruchio and Katherine return to attend the wedding. Everyone is surprised at what appears to be a tamed Katherine. The men hold a wager to see whose wife is most attentive to their wishes and call for them, but only Katherine answers and she makes a speech in homage to her husband’s wishes whilst he watches on dotingly. The only question is: ‘Who has tamed whom?’

This was a wonderful evening at Norwich Cathedral as the GB Theatre Company put on a splendid show with amazing performances from Lucia McAnespie as Katherine and David Davies as Petruchio. This production was directed by Jenny Stephens who previously directed The Merry Wives of Windsor for them in 2010.