The Tempest by William Shakespeare adapted and directed by Simon Beyer
The Cock Tavern has recently been taken over by Good Night Out
Presents, a company that are nurturing re-inventions of Shakespeare
texts and vibrant new writing.
The current season of The Tempest adapted and directed by Simon Beyer neatly meets these criteria with its gender-reversed characters making the performance a vibrant interpretation.
With no first night nerves evident we are immediately whipped up into the eye of the storm where all is lost in a shipwreck caused by Arielle (Natasha James) and ordered by Prospera (Karen Paullada).
It’s a physical production where female empowerment is a strong theme throughout. Prospera has a very real thirst for vengeance against her sister for causing her exile. A pawn to help her realise her revenge is Alonza ,The Queen of Naples daughter Ferdinina (Jordanna Tin) who has survived the wreck and fallen into the gaze of Mirundo (Adam Glass) Prospera’s son.
Prospera’s magical powers control her dominion of the forsaken isle where the play takes place. Beyer uses sound to full effect, both recorded and actor based.
This facilitates mystical otherworldliness enabling the audience to understand the shipwrecked noble women’s fear.
Prospera controls the elements with the assistance of Arielle, a mischievous sprite.
Natasha James was outstanding as Arielle, conveying the mischief she would put upon humans who are intruders, but with pathos as Arielle is alone once she is free.
This production features a strong ensemble cast with energy and vitality lead by Amy Clarke as Alonza. Double casting did not affect the continuity of the narrative or confuse character roles, but rather gave the ensemble an extra opportunity to show off their performance skills.
The look of the production utilised modern clothing, keeping the accents natural and working in subtle nods to modern life. Intrigues were told with proficiency and the comic subplots were exploited to their full potential.
Jane Bowhay as Stephanie and Hannah Wood as Trincula are show stealers in their drunken slapstick routine taunting Caliban (Clare Cameron).
Cameron gives Caliban a Gollum like edge, showing the characters desire to be free of the magical powers Prospera has over creatures on the island.
There were nice touches to an otherwise sparse set, where luminous paint gave an ethereal glow to the performance space. As the production settles into its run the modulation of dialogue pitch should settle to accommodate the acoustics of the performance space.
Kilburn would do well to support Good Night Out Presents in their quest to bring good writing and great performance.
The Cock Tavern Theatre
125 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 6JH.
Kilburn – Jubilee Line, Kilburn Park- Bakerloo line. Mainline Kilburn Park Station, Brondesbury Park
0780 096 5287
www.cocktaverntheatre.com
4th February – 7th March 2009 Tuesdays – Saturdays 7:30pm. Sundays 5:00pm. (No Monday performance.)
All Tickets £10
The current season of The Tempest adapted and directed by Simon Beyer neatly meets these criteria with its gender-reversed characters making the performance a vibrant interpretation.
With no first night nerves evident we are immediately whipped up into the eye of the storm where all is lost in a shipwreck caused by Arielle (Natasha James) and ordered by Prospera (Karen Paullada).
It’s a physical production where female empowerment is a strong theme throughout. Prospera has a very real thirst for vengeance against her sister for causing her exile. A pawn to help her realise her revenge is Alonza ,The Queen of Naples daughter Ferdinina (Jordanna Tin) who has survived the wreck and fallen into the gaze of Mirundo (Adam Glass) Prospera’s son.
Prospera’s magical powers control her dominion of the forsaken isle where the play takes place. Beyer uses sound to full effect, both recorded and actor based.
This facilitates mystical otherworldliness enabling the audience to understand the shipwrecked noble women’s fear.
Prospera controls the elements with the assistance of Arielle, a mischievous sprite.
Natasha James was outstanding as Arielle, conveying the mischief she would put upon humans who are intruders, but with pathos as Arielle is alone once she is free.
This production features a strong ensemble cast with energy and vitality lead by Amy Clarke as Alonza. Double casting did not affect the continuity of the narrative or confuse character roles, but rather gave the ensemble an extra opportunity to show off their performance skills.
The look of the production utilised modern clothing, keeping the accents natural and working in subtle nods to modern life. Intrigues were told with proficiency and the comic subplots were exploited to their full potential.
Jane Bowhay as Stephanie and Hannah Wood as Trincula are show stealers in their drunken slapstick routine taunting Caliban (Clare Cameron).
Cameron gives Caliban a Gollum like edge, showing the characters desire to be free of the magical powers Prospera has over creatures on the island.
There were nice touches to an otherwise sparse set, where luminous paint gave an ethereal glow to the performance space. As the production settles into its run the modulation of dialogue pitch should settle to accommodate the acoustics of the performance space.
Kilburn would do well to support Good Night Out Presents in their quest to bring good writing and great performance.
The Cock Tavern Theatre
125 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 6JH.
Kilburn – Jubilee Line, Kilburn Park- Bakerloo line. Mainline Kilburn Park Station, Brondesbury Park
0780 096 5287
www.cocktaverntheatre.com
4th February – 7th March 2009 Tuesdays – Saturdays 7:30pm. Sundays 5:00pm. (No Monday performance.)
All Tickets £10
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