Of all the plays of Shakespeare, The Tempest is the most striking instance of his creative power. He has there given reins to his boundless imagination... all around is enchantment!
Joseph Wharton, the amazing wildness of fancy, 1753
The above quote encapsulates for me the generally accepted view of The Tempest - a fantasy, a romance or mere spectacle for the eye. A closer reading of the text, however, reveals that there is a more solemn and even a more brutal side to this, Shakespeare's last play. In this production, we have attempted to eschew the more traditional and extravagant mise-en-scene of a classical production, preferring a simple style, which, hopefully, will allow the nuances of the text and verse to shine through. I believe that Shakespeare needs no adornment; what can be accomplished by a set designer is negligible compared to what can be created and embellished by the minds of the audience. We hope you agree.
Andy Bennett - Director.
Alonso, King of Naples - Steven Rayner
Sebastion, his brother - Samm Whitham
Prospero, the right Duke of Milan - Russell J. Turner
Antonio, his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan - Bert Eke
Ferdinand, son to the king of Naples - Sam Wheeler-Brown
Gonzalo, a honest old counselor - Tom Grey
Caliban, a savage and deformed slave - Jo Edye
Trinculo, a jester - Jon Creek
Stephano, a drunken butler - Richard Brook
Miranda, daughter to Prospero - Aisha Kent
Ariel, an airy spirit - Amelia Hamer
Iris, a spirit - Amanda Frost
Ceres, a spirit - Sharon Horth
Director - Andy BennettAnd thanks to:
Producer - Russell J. Turner
Stage Manager & Lord of props - Will Jordan
Composer - Tim Lane
Lighting and Sound - Neil Dabson
Photography - Bert Eke
Costumes - Sewell Barn Theatre, Salamanda Costumes & Cast
Publicity - Tom Carver
Everything Else - Andy Bennett
Crude Apache would like to thank: David Fulman and Norwich Labour Club, Julie Waterman-Drake, Abi Dent, Janet @ Beaujangles, all at Norwich Arts Centre, Harry and Amanda Harrold, Panda, Leights and all @ PirateUtopia, Chris Bond, Helen Goddard, Jane and Roger Wheeler-Brown , Liz Sidebottom and St. Peter's Hall, The Great Hall Players, Simon Edye, Norwich Screen Art, Deadbeat Theatre Company, all parents, children, partners or significant others of the cast and crew for their support and patience, anyone else who contributed to the production, you know who you are.
Norman Hunter was a writer, performer, stage magician and creator of wonderful contraptions, not unlike those of the Professor he loved to write about. A true eccentric, had he lived in a different time and place he could, undoubtedly, have been a member of Crude Apache.
Hunter's books about Professor Branestawm were part of my childhood. Retrieving them from the attic to show to my own children gave me the notion that the stories might make an entertaining piece of outdoor theatre for the warm summer evenings, being chock full of colourful characters, implausable adventures, eccentric inventions and just a hint of romance. We have had great fun bringing the stories and characters to life. We hope you will enjoy our performance. Please feel free to shout, cheer, boo and hiss, join in with the songs and salute the Catapult Cavaliers.
Richard Brook - Director.
Professor Branestawm - Tom Gray
Colonel Dedshott - Jon Creek
Mrs Flittersnoop - Ann Charles
Sister Aggie - Jenny Belsey
Mayor of Pagwell - Jo Moore
Vicar of Pagwell - Amanda Frost
Pagwell Fire Chief - Russell J. Turner
Mr Chinzbitz - Sam Whitham
Dr Mumpzanmeazles - Georgie Potter
The Chief Revolutioner - Panda
Sax and Clarinet - Jo Worley
Melodian and Fridge Percussion - Chris Hylton
Sax - Joshua Kaye
Tea Chest Bass - Panda
Banjo - Richard Brook
Special Guest Bucketeer - Leighton Williams
Adapted & Directed - Richard Brook
Producers - Rascal and Gromore
Props, Sets and Inventions - Will Jordan
Publicity - Tom Carver
John Rhind and Wymondham Town Council, David Fullman and all at Norwich Labour Club, Cathie Davies, Norwich City Council, Liz Hoffbauer, Hunstanton & District Festival of Arts, Natasha Janes, Norwich Screen Art, Bert Eke.
Based on the books by Noman Hunter.
By kind permission of Random house Publishers.
Antigone was a Crude Apache / Pirateutopia co-production and has its own website